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eimarraI seriously need to rant, so I'm doing it here. My apologies if you're not interested. This is a commentary on politics and censorship and blind obedience. If you think this might offend your sensibilities, stop reading now.
Today a friend posted on Facebook that even if Army Reserve Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer's new memoirOperation Dark Heart had no content that was inflammatory or exposing, the DoD's response was the correct one because it's the principle of the matter -- why would you want to give away procedures that are helpful?
I disagreed, saying that if the information was dangerous, the government should classify it. Otherwise, it is censorship. A Marine's mom chimed in, saying, "why would you want to do anything that might put more people in danger!!"
I again stated my opinion:
Some lovely examples of things that came from the government:
The government didn't want us to know about any of those things, either.
For the record, the DoD has said that information in the book was classified material, and Shaffer should have cleared it with more than just his Army Reserve command. A redacted version is being printed. So in this case, it was not censorship but rather a lack of communication between the Army Reserve and the Army about the requirements for publication. Which doesn't change my reaction to the woman's statement about "it should be left alone." I don't believe anybody should be given power without oversight.
Today a friend posted on Facebook that even if Army Reserve Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer's new memoirOperation Dark Heart had no content that was inflammatory or exposing, the DoD's response was the correct one because it's the principle of the matter -- why would you want to give away procedures that are helpful?
I disagreed, saying that if the information was dangerous, the government should classify it. Otherwise, it is censorship. A Marine's mom chimed in, saying, "why would you want to do anything that might put more people in danger!!"
I again stated my opinion:
I really didn't mean to imply that we should not do what it takes to keep our people safe. I don't want your son -- or the children or spouses of any of my other friends who have family serving -- to be in danger.To which she said, "I just believe that it is common sense, if it came from the government, it should be left alone!!"
But as I said -- if the information's secrecy is important to their security, then it should be classified.
Some lovely examples of things that came from the government:
- Senator McCarthy
- J. Edgar Hoover and COINTELPRO
- Watergate
- Iran-Contra scandal
- Abu Ghraib
- the Stryker Combat Brigade in Afghanistan
The government didn't want us to know about any of those things, either.
For the record, the DoD has said that information in the book was classified material, and Shaffer should have cleared it with more than just his Army Reserve command. A redacted version is being printed. So in this case, it was not censorship but rather a lack of communication between the Army Reserve and the Army about the requirements for publication. Which doesn't change my reaction to the woman's statement about "it should be left alone." I don't believe anybody should be given power without oversight.
