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In reply to the discussion: President Obama Indicts Sixth Whistleblower Under the Espionage Act [View all]ProSense
(116,464 posts)100. The Good News
This document basically states that the increase is a result of more accurate counting. President Obama changed the counting method, he had nothing to do with the process of classifiying the documents.
From the snip you posted:
Typically ISOOs annual reports are useful in determining whether the government is classifying more or less information than in previous years. For 2009, however, ISOO changed the way it counts classified electronic records making comparisons to previous years impossible but providing a clearer picture of the amount of classified information the government actually produces...
More from the document:
II. The Good News
The good news in the ISOO report is that the number of original classification decisions is down considerably, continuing a trend that started in 2005. Original classification decisions are the initial determinations made by original classification authorities (OCA) who are specifically designated by the President or agency heads and trained to judge what information absolutely must be safeguarded to protect national security. Only 183,224 original classification decisions were made in 2009, and a record number of those (67%) assigned declassification dates of ten years or less, which is on the shorter end of the spectrum of possibilities.3 One might think that this downward pressure on original classification decisions, combined with choosing to classify information for shorter periods of time, would lead to shrinking amounts of classified information, but overall classification has gone up precipitously, even before ISOOs counting methodology changed. The problem lies not with original classifications, but rather with the unregulated growth of derivative classifications.
II. The Problem of Derivative Classification
The vast majority of classification decisions, 99.66% of them in 2009, are made by government employees and contractors who may have had little or no training in classification policy, yet have the authority to wield classification stamps with little oversight and virtually no accountability. Derivative classification, the ISOO report explains, is the act of incorporating, paraphrasing, restating, or generating in new form information that is already classified and, therefore, not considered new secrets.4 For example, when a CIA analyst writes a report that includes information from another document that is already marked secret, or which references a program or operation that an OCA has declared classified, the CIA analyst will derivatively mark the new document at the same classification level as the source material. ISOO suggests that derivative classification, therefore, creates no new secrets. In theory that might be true, but in practice when derivative classifiers are creating 99.66% of the classified information the government produces each a year they are most certainly creating many new secrets.
The problem of derivative classification was highlighted in a 1997 study of government secrecy conducted by the Commission on Protecting and Reducing Government Secrecy, better known as the Moynihan Commission after its chairman, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. The study revealed the then-startling fact that only 6% of classification actions were taken by trained OCA.5 The Moynihan Commission reported that any of the over 3 million security clearance holders in government and private industry, ranging from entry-level soldiers to government contractors to political appointees, could derivatively classify information.
The good news in the ISOO report is that the number of original classification decisions is down considerably, continuing a trend that started in 2005. Original classification decisions are the initial determinations made by original classification authorities (OCA) who are specifically designated by the President or agency heads and trained to judge what information absolutely must be safeguarded to protect national security. Only 183,224 original classification decisions were made in 2009, and a record number of those (67%) assigned declassification dates of ten years or less, which is on the shorter end of the spectrum of possibilities.3 One might think that this downward pressure on original classification decisions, combined with choosing to classify information for shorter periods of time, would lead to shrinking amounts of classified information, but overall classification has gone up precipitously, even before ISOOs counting methodology changed. The problem lies not with original classifications, but rather with the unregulated growth of derivative classifications.
II. The Problem of Derivative Classification
The vast majority of classification decisions, 99.66% of them in 2009, are made by government employees and contractors who may have had little or no training in classification policy, yet have the authority to wield classification stamps with little oversight and virtually no accountability. Derivative classification, the ISOO report explains, is the act of incorporating, paraphrasing, restating, or generating in new form information that is already classified and, therefore, not considered new secrets.4 For example, when a CIA analyst writes a report that includes information from another document that is already marked secret, or which references a program or operation that an OCA has declared classified, the CIA analyst will derivatively mark the new document at the same classification level as the source material. ISOO suggests that derivative classification, therefore, creates no new secrets. In theory that might be true, but in practice when derivative classifiers are creating 99.66% of the classified information the government produces each a year they are most certainly creating many new secrets.
The problem of derivative classification was highlighted in a 1997 study of government secrecy conducted by the Commission on Protecting and Reducing Government Secrecy, better known as the Moynihan Commission after its chairman, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. The study revealed the then-startling fact that only 6% of classification actions were taken by trained OCA.5 The Moynihan Commission reported that any of the over 3 million security clearance holders in government and private industry, ranging from entry-level soldiers to government contractors to political appointees, could derivatively classify information.
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President Obama Indicts Sixth Whistleblower Under the Espionage Act [View all]
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
OP
If we knew all of the dirty "war" secrets we'd be inclined to oppose military adventures abroad.
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#5
They classify millions of documents that have nothing to do with the security of the nation.
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#19
You're giving a perfect example of "whistleblowers" who are wrong about what they're leaking.
jeff47
Apr 2012
#113
No, it doesn't. We're talking about a situation where a whistleblower wants to leak. (nt)
jeff47
Apr 2012
#116
I don't think that information about possible crimes by members of our government
JDPriestly
Apr 2012
#32
When "Enhanced interrogation techniques" were approved, and no successful challenge has been brought
jeff47
Apr 2012
#201
Unfortunately, "enhanced interrogation" was rule legal, and nobody's successfully challenged that.
jeff47
Apr 2012
#122
How was torture ruled legal? Are we still part of the civilized world which signed
sabrina 1
Apr 2012
#162
so when international crimes are committed, one should be quiet and "obey the law"?
robinlynne
Apr 2012
#83
But prosecuting whistleblowers under the Espionage IS unprecedented ...
markpkessinger
Apr 2012
#147
I think for two reasons. 1. They leaked classified information. And 2., the MIC
RKP5637
Apr 2012
#12
Title of thread refers to Obama's actions, not Bush. Held for political effect. Indicted now for
freshwest
Apr 2012
#55
President Obama can direct the DOJ to not prosecute whistleblowers .... unless he's a weak and
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#43
I want the Obama administration to not charge whistleblowers with espionage!
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#61
Are you the Amazing Kreskin? You know that is what he wants? Really? How do you explain
Dragonfli
Apr 2012
#76
That's how I remember it, Dragonfli. All of a sudden we're not supposed to care
sabrina 1
Apr 2012
#160
So you can use english, just in a very limited way it would appear. At least it's a start.
Dragonfli
Apr 2012
#104
So do you favor charging whistleblowers with espionage? Please try to stay on topic. Thanks.
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#108
He seems to be pretty good at ignoring torture and the prosecution of torturers.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Apr 2012
#80
So you think Obama should concentrate DOJ resources on medical pot dispensaries and whistleblowers.
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#134
I don't want him to and I really wish he wouldn't when it comes to civil liberties.
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#109
But, when done by the CIA murdererers and torturers, it's protected by our government.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Apr 2012
#151
I certainly would prefer to vote for someone more progressive than Obama, but I am
teddy51
Apr 2012
#17
Somehow this story will end up in the bullshit half truth folder like many other Obama
uponit7771
Apr 2012
#27
expect a mighty and angry populace to arise this summer who is sick of wars, corruption
xiamiam
Apr 2012
#52
so sick of that ridiculous remark..on iggy for anyone who chooses that as their defense fyi..nt
xiamiam
Apr 2012
#53
You are a partisan? To what party do you belong, what state do you vote primary in? /nt
Dragonfli
Apr 2012
#77
Right. Obama knows nothing about these prosecutions. If he did, he'd stop them!
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#62
So, you are suggesting that the President should interfere with Justice Dept. prosecutions?
Freddie Stubbs
Apr 2012
#91
YES! EXACTLY! ALL Presidents indicate their priorities to the Justice Department.
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#94
The Justice Department can reset its priorities and decide it doesn't have a firm "espionage" case
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#95
It's just a few, actually, the same few all the time. I am grateful to them because
sabrina 1
Apr 2012
#191
Exposing torture is a crime..torturing or enabling torture isn't. Especially in campaign season.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Apr 2012
#66
Exposing torture is a crime..torturing or enabling torture isn't. Especially in campaign season.
druidity33
Apr 2012
#128
...this, plus the continued war on Legalized Marijuana Dispensaries are some of the more infuriating
truebrit71
Apr 2012
#75
ACLU: In 2009 the Obama administration made 54 million decisions to classify government documents!
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#86
maybe the real story should be: the high crimes they didn't bother to even investigate
G_j
Apr 2012
#101
There is a series of articles published daily by paid operatives trying to suppress the vote.
NYC_SKP
Apr 2012
#133
What's strange is some of those same paid operatives used to post anti-Bush articles..
Fumesucker
Apr 2012
#136
Of course anyone who isn't deliriously happy with Obama is a right wing agitator.
Fumesucker
Apr 2012
#161
Well, it's possible these posters are left wing agitators like that person...
joshcryer
Apr 2012
#167
Sort by replies. A lot of us post uncontroversial stuff that drops thanks to derision.
joshcryer
Apr 2012
#181
The ones I see doing the most damage to DU are those who constantly try to put a positive spin..
Fumesucker
Apr 2012
#182
And yet you see a reason for attacking good DUers who don't march in lockstep
brentspeak
Apr 2012
#175
So you are claiming that my posted article is written by a paid Republican operative
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#145
Expect a silent chorus of crickets..but more accusations of disloyalty for not toeing the party line
Tierra_y_Libertad
Apr 2012
#150
I strongly disagree with your assertion that critics of the Administration are paid disruptors.
Leopolds Ghost
Apr 2012
#203
For opposing it and helping to expose it with super secret documents! Throw the key away!
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#166
How much hard labor time do you think this lefty liberal should get?
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#171
John Kiriakou lied about how many times Zubaydah was waterboarded. He's no lefty.
joshcryer
Apr 2012
#173
So you believe he engaged in espionage on behalf of what nation or terrorist group?
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#196