Secret Reclassification System

It seems those so fond of the absurd argument "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear," have plenty to hide themselves. A secret agreement between the National Archives and Records Administration and a number of government agencies -- including the Air Force, CIA and other secret entities -- was recently revealed through a Freedom of Information Act request by the National Security Archive. The agreement established a "reclassification" program through which long-since declassified government documents will be once again made secret. In addition, the program's results will be disguised so that researchers will be unable to identify the gaps created by the mass reclassification effort. Information obtained by the National Security Archive suggests that some of the reclassified information may have contained information on secret National Security Agency (NSA) and CIA programs that the administration now wants to remain secret. More on the program here.

Once again, the Bush administration has shown itself to be opposed in almost every case to liberty and openness in government. This kind of extreme government secrecy not only runs counter to principles of democracy and accountability in government, it also poses a serious threat to our fundamental freedoms.