Secrecy for the Sake of Secrecy

contentions ^ | 8.8.2007 | Gabriel Schoenfeld

[Contentions]

Ever since the CIA was established in 1947, the annual amount of money spent on intelligence has been treated as a closely guarded secret. In recent years, a small army of liberal advocacy groups has been calling for disclosure. Their cause gained momentum when the 9/11 Commission threw its weight behind it. Just this past week, Congress passed a law, which President

Bush has already signed, that would compel such disclosure.

But the House of Representatives is now busy undoing its own work, and the final outcome is far from clear. Bush, for his part, signed the bill under duress. His administration, remaining faithful to its reputation (ill-deserved, as I have argued here) as the “most secretive” in American history, has consistently argued against disclosure.

[Redbob]

"Bush, for his part, signed the bill under duress."

Horse Shirt!

Duress?
Did somebody kidnap a family member, hold a weapon to his head?

How do you apply "duress" to the President of the United States?

If he signed it, it's because he wanted to sign it.

[ravingnutter]

Geez...it sounds like the guy is arguing with himself. FYI...Murtha was the one that wanted it kept secret:

Powerful Democrat agrees to block disclosure of intelligence budget

This was after he got his hand slapped over an earmark he tried to sneak into the budget and threatening Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.). The reason?

President Bush recently set aside $16 million in his proposed budget to close the Drug Intelligence Center, which employs nearly 400 people in Murtha’s hometown. Last year, the House Government Reform Committee also called for its shutdown.

Source

Murtha has thwarted Bush’s plans and secured $39 million for NDIC in each of the past two budget cycles.

Source

Here piggy, piggy, piggy...

[ravingnutter]

It was part of the 9/11 Commission recommendations...it was required by law (bill was passed recently):

9/11 bill requires disclosure of intelligence budgets

Pertinent excerpts:

"Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 2007, the Director of National Intelligence shall disclose to the public the aggregate amount of funds appropriated by Congress for the National Intelligence Program for such fiscal year," states the House-Senate conference agreement on H.R. 1 (section 601), the massive bill to implement recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

The Bush White House has expressed opposition to intelligence budget disclosure but is not expected to veto the entire 9/11 bill on that basis.

In a compromise with Administration opponents, the House-Senate conference agreed that, beginning in 2009, the President could waive the disclosure requirement by submitting a statement to Congress that budget disclosure in that particular year could damage national security. The legislation does not allow for a waiver in 2007 or 2008.