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Why Does the U.S. Get All the Tornadoes?
Posted By Josh Rogin
Friday, July 16, 2010 - 11:13 AM
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The State Department is bracing for a potentially explosive new feature on the Washington Post website that would publish the names and locations of agencies and firms conducting Top Secret work on behalf of the U.S. government, according to the copy of an email obtained by The Cable.
The Diplomatic Security Bureau at State sent out a notice Thursday to all department employees warning them to protect classified information and reject inquiries from the press when the new web feature goes live.
"The Washington Post plans to publish a website listing all agencies and contractors believed to conduct Top Secret work on behalf of the U.S. Government," the notice reads. "The website provides a graphic representation pinpointing the location of firms conducting Top Secret work, describing the type of work they perform, and identifying many facilities where such work is done."
According to the notice, the Post used only open-source information to compile its site. However, if some of that open-source information turns out to have been classified, its publication by the Post doesn't change that classification, the State Department emphasized.
"All Department personnel should remain aware of their responsibility to protect classified and other sensitive information, such as the Department's relationships with contract firms, other U.S. Government agencies, and foreign governments," the notice says.
State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley confirmed the authenticity of the e-mail and said it went out to all State Department employees in the Washington, DC area, 14,574 people.
The Washington Post declined requests for comment.
Here's the full notice:
Office of Origin: DS/EX
Announcement Number: 2010_07_059
Date of Announcement: July 15, 2010
________________________________
Notification of Major Media Outlet Story On Monday July 19, the Washington Post plans to publish a website listing all agencies and contractors believed to conduct Top Secret work on behalf of the U.S. Government. The website provides a graphic representation pinpointing the location of firms conducting Top Secret work, describing the type of work they perform, and identifying many facilities where such work is done.
Although the Washington Post acquired the information from open sources, all Department personnel should remain aware of their responsibility to protect classified and other sensitive information, such as the Department's relationships with contract firms, other U.S. Government agencies, and foreign governments. Employees are reminded that they must neither confirm nor deny information contained in this, or any, media publication, and that the publication of this website and supporting articles does not constitute a change to the level of classification of any information duly classified in accordance with Executive Order 13526.
In the unlikely event you are contacted for comment, please forward any request for information to the Bureau of Public Affairs, Press Relations Office at (202) 647-2492.
UPDATE: The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder publishes a related memo by Art House, the communications director of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which appears to be just as worried as the State Department about the Post's reporting. Excerpt:
It might be helpful as you prepare for publication to draw up a list of accomplishments and examples of success to offer in response to inquiries to balance the coverage and add points that deserve to be mentioned. In media discussions, we will seek to garner support for the Intelligence Community and its members by offering examples of agile, integrated activity that has enhanced performance. We will want to minimize damage caused by unauthorized disclosure of sensitive and classified information.
It also describes ODNI's expections for the Washington Post series:
Themes
While we can't predict specific content, we anticipate the following themes:
The intelligence enterprise has undergone exponential growth and has become unmanageable with overlapping authorities and a heavily outsourced contractor workforce.
The IC and the DoD have wasted significant time and resources, especially in the areas of counterterrorism and counterintelligence.
The intelligence enterprise has taken its eyes off its post-9/11 mission and is spending its energy on competitive and redundant programs.
Format
The Washington Post may run a series of three articles, the first being an overview, the second focused on the large number of contractors supporting the intelligence enterprise, and the third looking at a specific community (the Fort Meade/BWI Airport area) that has expanded in part due to Intelligence Community growth.
The Washington Post is expected to work with Public Broadcasting Service's Frontline program to add a television component to this work, and will also present an interactive web site demonstrating growth of the intelligence enterprise and inviting comment and dialogue. The Post advises that "links" between individual contractors and specific agencies have been deleted, although the Post will still cite contractors and their locations.
UPDATE #2: An administration official responds to The Cable to comment on the Post series, which the administration is portraying as less than meets the eye.
"A lot of this is explainable. You want some redundancy in the Intelligence Community and you're going to have some waste. These are things we've been aware of and in some instances we agree are troubling. However, it's something we've been working on for a year and a half. It's something we've been on top of," the official said.
"There was a need for urgent expansion after 9/11 and there was a need for an expansion of contractors to fill analyst positions. There will be examples of money being wasted in the series that seem egregious and we are just as offended as the readers by those examples."
At least the anointed one will be well rested to respond to the latest national security crisis. Or would this fall under the large category of 8 years of the previous administration blah blah blah? If I were writing Obumo's speech it would start - my fellow American's, have you heard the stuff that Mel Gibson was caught saying? And if it wasn't for my policies that oil would still be leaking into the gulf region. We were able to cap it in a mere 90 days! I can't take questions, I have a tee time. Be back later in the week. Peace Out my brothers.
Something for top secret agencies and firms to look into
How many of you "Top Secret" experts have even bothered to look up the legal definition for "Exempt income" that is ALREADY WRITTEN into tax law?
WHAT IS TAXED . COM
Funny that it takes a computer scientist just two minutes to find something that thousands of tax "experts" won't even bother.
Wake up, Slaves.
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--(0 0)-
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The Sheeple say baaaaaahhhhhh
and sometimes, Moooooooooooooooooooooo.
Anyone who wants to do serious harm to the infrastructure of our Top Secret contractors and facilities already knows as much about them as they need to. Foreign governments, professional terrorist groups.... These aren't the folks we need to worry about with the release of this information.
What concerns me is the now ready access of these sites to homegrown organizations, small-time terrorist cells, or others who want to do us harm, but don't have the money or resources to get this information for themselves.
Our Country Club POTUS isn't concerned with the small-time stuff, because high profile enough for him to walk off the golf course, jump in front of a microphone, and blame the Bush for it. I'm firmly convinced the man only wanted to BE President - to have all those high-society trappings. He never wanted to do the job of President.
So while Eric Holder is busy finding ways to sue Arizona for actually enforcing laws he does nothing as National Security secrets are being leaked in broad daylight. Obama's administration is showing more signs of gross incompetence. I'm sure the same crowd of Obama supporters and MoveLeft.org that demanded Bush resign over the outing of CIA agent Valarie Plume will apply the same standards here. I'm guessing the impeachment hearings will begin after the August recess.
Black_dog you are spot on. I just do not get this administrations priorities.
Everything that they criticized the Bush admin for they are doing the same things.
Where is the promised transparency? How about the house already has a bill to "Fix" the financial reform bill? How many people can go to work with a plan and a plan to fix what is wrong with their first plan? Oh and still expect to be employed.
Awful. I have never been this concerned over my Country as I am now.
Peace and God Bless everyone.
It seems to me that the Washington Post uses 'the public's right to know" to divulge intelligence information to our enemies which results in costing the American public millions of dollars. The exposure of the Greenbrier as the location in Virginia of where the government would be got them additional readership in the DC area for one or two days, but it cost us dearly in its reestablishment in another nearby location.
Now thwy want to expose locations where high-level security work is performed just to sell papers. The failing company wants to breathe fire. The revelation is good for our enemies and will cost the US taxpayer dearly for eventual relocation of those facilities.
The folks at the Washington Post should be prosecuted for sedition if it's published.
The question now is, will Erik Holder move forward or will he hold back as he did for the Black Panthers.
Black_Dog, The WAPO doesn't say they will give away TOP SECRET information; they say they will publish a list of contractors and facilities that work on TOP SECRET information. They also say they compiled this list from already published information.
From my work with TOP SECRET information and the frequent security briefings I received, I can attest that any intelligence agency worth their salt is way ahead of the WAPO on this.
@ Laser...first off the Greenbrier Resort is located in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia not in Virginia, although it is only about 15 minutes from the state line so I guess I can see where your confusion came from. Second, Greek Island (code name for the Bunker located at the Greenbrier) was known about by the locals there for several years before it was made known to the rest of the world, at which time it had already been designated for decommissioning. It also was capable to house Congress for several days, in the event of a Nuclear strike, not just a few. Just thought you would like a little information to clear up your confusion.
Black Dog writes: "I'm sure the same crowd of Obama supporters and MoveLeft.org that demanded Bush resign over the outing of CIA agent Valarie Plume will apply the same standards here."
I respond: And I'm sure the same crowd of Bush supporters that were saying that the outing of Valerie Plame was no big deal will apply the same standards here.
But let's see what the article says:
"According to the notice, the Post used only open-source information to compile its site."
Hmmm, well that would mean that anybody who wanted the information that is going to be published in the Post probably already has it. Which means that the Post is not actually hurting our national security.
The article continues:
"However, if some of that open-source information turns out to have been classified, its publication by the Post doesn't change that classification, the State Department emphasized."
True, but also pointless and of little consequence to anyone who wants to get the information.
Caton you realize you disagree with Black Dog when you say he's 'spot on'? Transparency IS what the post is doing.
Wouldn't it be a bit more alarming if the DOJ turned its attention away from protecting legitimate civil rights concern (siding with people against the government) and towards the Washington Post for publishing OPEN-SOURCE information (siding with the government against people and free speech).
that would be something to actually worry about.
And, another new website hightlights Government fraud.
I wonder how many of you "Top Secret" experts have even bothered to look up the legal definition for "Exempt income" that is ALREADY WRITTEN into tax law?
WHAT IS TAXED . COM
Funny that it takes a computer scientist just two minutes to find something that thousands of tax "experts" won't even bother.
Wake up, Slaves.
__)-)
--(0 0)-
__\~/
\\ `
The Sheeple say baaaaaahhhhhh
and sometimes, Moooooooooooooooooooooo.
Did you do any research at all or just take the websites word for it. Go to the government website linked there. The sections that the website points to simply says that foreign income is not exempt. Just because it doesn't specifically say that American's are not exempt doesn't mean you don't need to pay your taxes. Oh and by the way Title 26 section 1.1-1 of the same website
"(a) General rule. (1) Section 1 of the Code imposes an income tax on the income of every individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States and, to the extent provided by section 871(b) or 877(b), on the income of a nonresident alien individual."
Also the website owner himself doesn't trust this. Look at the disclaimer on the bottom of the page. Wake up idiot. You have to pay your taxes.
Oh by they way I believe the definition of Sheeple fit's you pretty well.
Hussein Obama is giving the secrets away. He hates America and is fulfilling the progressive dream, the destruction of the US Constitution. From now until his impeachment there will be endless breeches, etc. because he is leaking to lower us to the level of his Muslim family. He is evil, there is no two ways about it.
Classified Documents and Activities
As much as I dislike this current administration and all it stands for and does not stand for, classified information is classified information. Any news paper, and I use the term very loosely in this particular case, to publish names and locations of entities involved in said classified things is beyond criminal. If I were in the position of 'Irene Kennedy' I'd send 'Mitch Rapp' in a heartbeat to take care of this little problem and every liberal whiner be damned..
I hope we survive the 60's generation
We are now in the midst of the second 60's generation revolution. The inmates are running the asylum.
God help us!!
Revealing sensitive/secret information
I think why the Post feels free to release 'secret' information that could be harmful to our security and compromise those people employeed in those businesses, is that during the Bush administration there was such dislike by the media against Bush, that when classified information was unauthorized but revealed, the media didn't make a case against people doing that because it was an opening to embarrass Bush. Getting rid of Bush and Republicans was more important than the damage this would do to our country. So in effect it became okay to hurt our security, even to the point they glorified these people, all to get liberal democrats elected. So instead of their being a huge public outcry about this data being open, the media doesn't report the disgust by the American people. The question now is since they (media) got their man elected and got a very liberal congress in power, will they still minimize the dangerous effect releasing this data can do to our nation?
This just seems like a perfect set-up by the Washington Post to enable Obama to legitimize an Internet blocking. Who is to say that the W-Post is not working with the administration to give O the look of wisdom and empowerment as he shuts down access to that page on W-Post website? Could this be an alternate scenario?
They just pulled the plug on 76000 blogs...
This should scare the hell out of all of us! Get these people out of office!!!
WASHPOST TO ENDANGER AMERICAN SECURITY
No surprise that a element of the Democrat-captured media would endanger American security. These rotters aren't unpatriotic, however --- they're anti-American --- and they reserve their "patriotism" for every other country on the planet. For them to be an "American patriot" it is either taboo, or a ruse to confound the unwary.
Since this is coming from State, could this possibly be a ploy by the SECUS (Hillary) to make her boss look bad?
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As one who is the subject of some of this surveillance (verified) -- without ever being told why, by the way -- I am shocked by two aspects. First, the expense is horrendous. The government has wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars on this. Second, many of these guys are either utterly incompetent or the government is using surveillance as a blunt force weapon to induce stress on its targets. Once the target is aware of the surveillance, the only value is to induce stress. That's why the government paid Hatfill almost $6 million, but killed Bruce Ivins. Any way you look at it, a sit-down with a cup of coffee would be more productive.
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FROM HERO TO TRAITOR IN 1 SIMPLE MOVE .
HAS THE WASHINGTON POST RAG BEEN SOLD TO COMMUNIST SPIES
IN RUSSIA , IRAN , SAUDI ARABIA , PAKISTAN , AFGHANISTAN OR MAYBE
TO OSAMA BIN " SATAN "
IF THIS COMPANY OF FOOLS PUBLISHES ONE ARTICLE ABOUT OUR
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION , AND EXPOSES OUR ACTIVITIES AND OPERATIVES , THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION SHOULD BE DESTROYED AND BURNED TO THE GROUND
Can we maybe take a break on the reflexive Obama bashing? Besides being off-topic, it's tiresome watching people with an ax to grind repeatedly spitting out the same half-baked opinions. As regards this article, our intelligence agencies have a long legacy of being inept at keeping classified information classified. And believe it or not, the ability of the press to publish such information is a tribute to one of our paramount constitutional values: the freedom of the press. Are you all really so scared of terrorists that you're willing to institute draconian protections over anything the government deems "Classified?"
Looks like this so called administration wants to do more damage than ten trade offs to the Russian Empire.
You're really going to blame this on the Obama administration? You do know that our country's intelligence agencies have a long and unbroken history of leaking information, right? Or are you just a proponent of prior restraint? You think that the government should be able to step in and stop newspapers from publishing stories? As if this power couldn't be abused? Really, I'm really curious to know if these are the thoughts that are in your brain.
This is a Big Government Problem
Where does a conservative strand on this? Truth is, these reports by the Post may be reveling, but the fact is like it or not, federal employees leaked or otherwise provided the info. It is now out there. 900K top-secret clearances is alarming. The concept of "need to know" has obviously been thrown out. Now it is "everyone needs to know". There is roughly 2.5 million non-military feds (and growing) spending our money wastefully every day. One report suggested only 28% of the top security holders are contractors. So therefore, about 650K feds have top security clearances. That represents over 25% of the federal workforce! Does something sound wrong here? I would like to see our secrets secure, but having a quarter of the high paid arrogant self serving federal work force whose incomes continue to rise while ours decline have access to our nations secrets does not seem right. Top Secret is no longer, what it used to be. Actually feds no longer believe it either since no department will talk to each other because they don't recognize the others clearances as the same as theirs. There is no standard application of what any level of clearance means. In short, we are spending a tremendous amount of taxpayer money giving a quarter of the feds an ego boost.
Anyone wonder why we need nearly a million Top Secret clearance holders? It is no wonder why our nation's secrets are being leaked regularly. Where or who is the Post getting its information from? It cost nearly $20K for the gov to clear a person and can cost a couple thousand to maintain them each year. That cost can build up with nearly a million top secret clearances, at the same time increasing the risk of sensitive information exposure. This is a runaway government who no longer looks at costs or risk - or anything. It is all about empire building, ego, and departmental growth. Gates says he has got it all under control. He has an enterprise of nearly 300K feds - a rough 1 to 2 ratio of feds to soldiers. Why??? His feds are hiring like mad and many of these new hires are Top Secret jobs - check out USAJOBS.gov. He has no control over his feds; recent news shows that his department is losing sensitive information on a regular basis. Yet he says he has his arms around this?
Get rid of redundant access to classified information. Reduce the federal employee ranks and the number of clearances. More over - simplify and consolidate! Do we need that much secured space? Buildings? Employees? Contracts? The numbers in the report are shocking. It is no wonder this government has been looking like it is out of control - from this report it sounds like it is! Common sense dictates the best security comes from simplicity. What we have is far from it!
Most of these comments sound like paid for bashing and are inane. But the last few attacking the revealing of security information suggest that people need to brush up their reading skills. The article clearly notes that ALL the information provided by the Washington Post is from OPEN SOURCES. This means that no one has revealed any secrets.
Back in the 1970's it was said that Americans have the greatest access to information of any country but are the most ignorant! That was because a) Ameriecans don't read, b) they can't/won't connect the dots in order to really take in the big picture.
This blog reveals that the public is still chosing ignorance over facts and meaningful analysis. This knee-jerk reaction is core to the bad choices the people make against their own self-interest. I learned a long time ago that one should watch what people do over what they say. The Bush & Co were tops at running cheap ads on patriotism while speeding up the downward spiral of our economy and destroying any goodwill and security in the world. It is obvious that having the biggest military budget in the world has done little for for our security or economy. We support every fascist dictator and destroy legitimate democratic process world wide and at home. Read and study the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Then compare with what has happened in this country.
John Hudson reports on national security and foreign policy from the Pentagon to Foggy Bottom, the White House to Embassy Row, for The Cable.
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