Steven Aftergood
Steven Aftergood
Steven Aftergoodis a specialist in physics and a political activist. He is a critic of U.S. government secrecy, generally favoring more openness. He directs the Federation of American Scientists Project on Government Secrecy and is the author of the Federation blog/newsletter Secrecy News...
attacks exposing help incidents learn learned lessons purpose served system willing
These incidents will have served a constructive purpose if the Pentagon is willing and able to learn from them. By exposing and highlighting vulnerabilities, the attacks can actually help to inoculate the system during times of crisis. But only if the appropriate lessons are learned now.
bureau cases employees problems tripped
I think there will be problems and cases where employees are tripped up by the tests, ... But the bureau as a whole will adapt.
argument enormous forgive might necessity speaking strictly tolerance understanding violations
I think there is enormous understanding and tolerance for an argument from necessity, and there's willingness to retroactively forgive what might strictly speaking be violations of the law.
access control families government guys information interest larger public reaching shut whether
We have an interest on public access to government information and in government control of such access. Don't shut down these guys whether they are communicating with their families or they are reaching out to the larger public.
attempt bully cannot cause court family fbi intimidate persuade private probable records stolen university
If the FBI can persuade a court that there is probable cause that there are stolen records in that collection, then they should go to court. They cannot bully or attempt to intimidate the family or the university into surrendering private records.
action activity basically covert national taking
This whole activity was effectively concealed. It's baffling. It's basically a covert action taking place at the National Archives.
appears default discourage judge media secrecy seems wants
Secrecy seems to be the default here. It appears the judge wants to discourage media coverage.
hillary nsa suggesting
No one is suggesting the NSA is monitoring Hillary Clinton.
left stress tools urgent vital
FOIA is one of the most vital tools we have left and it's urgent that it be protected. It's under stress in this climate, but it's not broken.
stress tools urgent vital
FOIA is one of the most vital tools we have left, and it's urgent that it be protected. It's under stress in this climate, but it's not broken.
aggressive authority goes oversight point principle relatively trivial
This illustrates the principle that unchecked authority goes astray. In this case, it's a relatively trivial infraction. But to me the point is that we need more aggressive and penetrating oversight than we have.
disgrace history recent
A lot of what we think we know of our recent history may be mistaken, ... It is a disgrace that it should be so in a democracy, but it is.
abolish create difficult either entirely logical practical proven reform simply
As a practical matter, it has proven difficult to either reform or abolish the CIA, ... The logical alternative may be to simply create an entirely new agency.
central focus implicit intelligence
an implicit repudiation of the CIA, which was established to be the central focus and the integrator of the nation's intelligence production.