Where is the outrage?

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Conscience and responsibility

You noted an important issue when you wrote:
"I find it remarkable that there was a 'leak' at the nation's most secret agency ? that should have been a clue that something was wrong."

Yes.

If the leak was not accidental, and it's difficult to hypothesize an accident which could cause this information to be released and find its way to the media, then someone knowingly released classified information.

If the leak was intentional, then the motive may have been to influence the public. That influence could be a negative impression of those responsible for the actions in question or an attempt to cause the actions to cease.

Whatever the reason for the leak, if it was in fact intentional then those responsible should of course be subject to severe criminal sanctions. Those sanctions should have been expected by those doing the leaking, and in fact they should have identified themselves to assure that the lengthy prison sentence could not be avoided.

Civil disobedience has an honorable history. Leaking to show dissatisfaction, like spying for a foreign country, does not.

An alternative for someone who disagreed with the action would have been to resign, and provide a reason for resignation which would indicate disagreement with the policy. That document would remain appropriately secret, like the program it criticizes.

Individuals entrusted with secret information do not thereby gain the authority to influence the public nor to affect the initiatives on which they work.

Though I can agree that some projects are wrong and protected only by secrecy, I don't want each individual working on every project to feel that the project continues only so long as he permits.

Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 05/18/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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