“In short, more than one of every three documents removed from the open shelves and barred to researchers should not have been tampered with.” A recently-completed audit into the formerly secret Archives reclassification program finds that many more files were reclassified — and reclassified wrongly — than previously suggested. “In February, the Archives estimated that about 9,500 records totaling more than 55,000 pages had been withdrawn and reclassified since 1999. The new audit shows the real haul was much larger — at least 25,515 records were removed by five different agencies, including the CIA, Air Force, Department of Energy, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Archives.“
Tag: Air Force
No More Secrets.
“For the National Archives to go into cahoots with the CIA and Air Force to mislead researchers about what was going on was over the top, and a strong signal of a secrecy system that is genuinely broken.” Following the recent uproar over re-classified documents, the National Archives pledges to forego secret arrangements in the future. Said the United States archivist, Allen Weinstein: “Classified agreements are the antithesis of our reason for being…If records must be removed for reasons of national security, the American people will always, at the very least, know when it occurs and how many records are affected.“
Better Bombing Through Chemistry.
Giving new meaning to the term “War on Drugs,” the Air Force is giving pilots uppers and downers for bombing raids. If it’s anything stronger than a Red Bull, it’s probably not a good idea, as no doubt many Afghan civilians can attest. (Via Genehack.)