(no subject)

[novapsyche]

McClellan: President Can Declassify Information at Any Time -- but just because they say it doesn't make it true. As John Dean said on Countdown with Keith Olbermann last night, there hasn't been anything definite on this issue historically speaking. However, it's obvious that Bush circumvented normal declassifying procedure. Also, the whole document would need to be declassified, not just bits that happen to be politically expedient.

Comments

[jdoggiedogg.livejournal.com]

There is one historical precedent. After being caught, Nixon quit.

Really?

[ashleytate.livejournal.com]

Really? The whole document must be declassified? Is *that* why you see so many declassified government documents with blacked out sections everywhere?

Re: Really?

[brendand.livejournal.com]

Exactly. There is NO logical explanation to that thought, J... I wish there were. But Clinton's the one who signed EO 12958. So we can't entirely fault Bush.

Re: Really?

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

You can declassify a document and have the parts regarding national security blacked out. All other relevant parts should then available. That's not what happened here. Parts of the NIE were cherry-picked and "declassified" on the spot.

And basically, you have to ask the question of why. Why did Bush declassify specific portions of this highly classified document?

Re: Really?

[brendand.livejournal.com]

I agree. It should be scrutinized. But what he did it not illegal, apparently... as pissed as that makes me.