Real questions difference between "classified" and "non-classified" emails

[Rilgin]

I am not a HRC supporter but am on the fence on this current issue as to whether there is a there there.

In reading the HRC defenders, I have heard the claim that she did not use this private server for "classified" emails but only for "non-classified" emails. However, we have also heard she did not set up or never used an account set up on the government servers.

This leads to my questions.

1. Where did she make "classified" emails or did she never use emails for any classified information at all? There really are only 2 choices. Either she never had any emails that should have been classified or she used this private server for both classified and non-classified emails.

2. There is a follow up question which is whats the difference between classified and non-classified (but not personal) emails. Does that only come up when a FOI request comes in or is every email written by a SOS immediately reviewed for classification. I am hoping someone with knowledge can explain this.

[Man from Pickens]

1. It's just another blatant lie

Sid Blumenthal's email was hacked a couple of years back and classified material was found that was sent to Hillary's private email address. So we already have hard proof of classified material in her email.

Not to mention that it would be completely impossible for her to do her job as SoS without handling classified material all the time.

[Proud Public Servant]

2. I can provide some answers

First, to echo Bill, it depends on what your definition of "classified email" is.

See, there's classified email, and there's classified information. State, like many federal agencies, has a classified email system that is separate from its unclassified email system. Relatively few State offices have desktop availability of classified email, and only qualifying personnel have access to classified log-ons. There may well be classified BlackBerries -- I have a top secret clearance and a classified log-on and have I've never seen one, but that doesn't mean anything -- but they wouldn't interact with any other email system, including State's unclassified system. And it is literally impossible to send/forward email from the classified system to a non-classified one.

All that is by way of saying: no way was Hillary sending/receiving classified email on her server.

Now, that's different from sending classified information in an unclassified email. That, unfortunately, seems to happen with some regularity, because classified email systems aren't always available and high-ranking DC types are much, much too important top follow protocol if it inconveniences them. Can't tell you how often I've seen that.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

3. It's a distinction without a difference for most people

When people discuss "classified e-mail", nine times out of ten their referring to the actual message, not the system used for transmission.

[Proud Public Servant]

4. Not to lawyers though

So don't be surprised if the proud Clinton tradition of giving narrowly legalistic answers to common sense questions continues apace.

[dumbcat]

5. Both State and DoD use SIPRnet

The Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet) is "a system of interconnected computer networks used by the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of State to transmit classified information (up to and including information classified SECRET) by packet switching over the TCP/IP protocols in a 'completely secure' environment".[1] It also provides services such as hypertext document access and electronic mail. As such, SIPRNet is the DoD's classified version of the civilian Internet.
SIPRNet is the SECRET component of the Defense Information Systems Network.[2] Other components handle communications with other security needs, such as NIPRNet which is used for nonsecure communications, and JWICS which is used for Top Secret communications.

Access[edit]

Behind the Green Door secure communications center with SIPRNET, GWAN, NSANET, and JWICS access
According to the U.S. Department of State Web Development Handbook, domain structure and naming conventions are the same as for the open internet, except for the addition of a second-level domain, like, e.g., "sgov" between state and gov: openforum.state.sgov.gov.[3] Files originating from SIPRNet are marked by a header tag "SIPDIS" (SIPrnet DIStribution).[4] A corresponding second-level domain smil.mil exists for DoD users.[5]
According to the Pentagon, SIPRNet has approximately 4.2 million users.[6] Access is also available to a "...small pool of trusted allies, including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand..."[7] This group (including the US) is known as the Five Eyes.
SIPRNet was one of the networks accessed by Chelsea Manning (formerly known as Bradley Manning), convicted of leaking the video used in WikiLeaks' "Collateral Murder" release[8] as well as the source of the US diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks in November 2010.[9]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIPRNet

I also held a TS/SCI access and used SIPRnet and JWICS a lot. And I also agree that the brass and politicians ignore the difference and distinctions and do stuff all the time that would put me in prison.

[Rilgin]

6. Do we know her practice?

Kind of following same information on two threads.

However, the HRC defense is she did not use her regular email for classified emails.

The question then is how did she handle classified information and how did she send classified documents.

If she needed to send someone a classified document. Apparantly she should have used SIPRNet if she wanted to do so. If she never had or used a SIPRNet account, there are only a few choices. Either she didn't send it electronically (i.e. sent it by hand delivery) or had an assistant email through SIPRNet. Do we know what she did? If she is speaking truthfully with respect to documents actually marked "Secret", those would seem to be the only choices.

Second, how did she handle discussions of sensitive or classified information outside of actual documents marked "Secret". If someone asked in an email something that was classified, how did she answer. Did she answer by email or did she then take it to a secure communication method that was not email. It would seem that her statement about not sending classified emails, if true, does not actually address this point. It is not a huge defense to say I didnt send classified emails marked Secret if she did discuss classified information over email.

[Proud Public Servant]

7. My guess would be

That she went through aides who had classified log-ons. As sexy as "classified email" may sounds (and if it does sound sexy, consult your physician...), it's real work-a-day stuff; it's not something Cabinet-level officials need for personal use.

[HereSince1628]

8. I think there is a label called 'sensitive but unclassified'

that is often applied to material that hasn't yet been classified.

Maybe someone who works in government can speak to this, but it seems that this is one of those places where a label such as that could provide a lot of latitude in calling something unclassified.