[Marxism] The Secret Reclassification Began Under Clinton

[Brian Shannon <brian_shannon@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

National Security Archive Update, April 11, 2006

SECRET AGREEMENT REVEALS COVERT PROGRAM
TO HIDE RECLASSIFICATION FROM PUBLIC

National Archives Signed Deal with Air Force to Disguise
Re-review of Open Files and Mislead Researchers on
Reasons for Withdrawing Previously Open Records.

March 2002 Memorandum of Understanding Released
Through FOIA Request, After Grilling of National
Archivist During Congressional Hearing March 16.

For more information contact:
Thomas Blanton/William Burr/Meredith Fuchs
202/994-7000
. . . .

The reclassification activities at NARA began at the end of the
Clinton administration.

So far, more than 55,000 pages of declassified documents, dating back
to the World War II era, have been removed from the open files.
During the March 14 hearing, Congressman Shays noted that the
reclassification program was not in the national interest. "This
absurd effort to put the toothpaste back into the tube persists
despite the growing consensus - supported by testimony before this
Subcommittee - that from fifty to ninety percent of the material
currently withheld should not be classified at all," Shays stated in
his opening statement.

According to National Security Archive historian William Burr,
concern over references in some declassified records to various
aerial reconnaissance systems that Air Force has used over the years,
such as the U-2 and the earlier GENETRIX balloon program, may have
triggered the reclassification project. Censored sections of the MOU,
he noted, could refer to operations of the National Security Agency.
If the NSA was involved, then perhaps the re-review referenced in the
MOU focused on specialized intelligence activities.

In February 2002, a recruitment notice shows that the Raytheon
Corporation received a contract from the Air Force to conduct the
reclassification review and that the project team would include at
least 20 people.

http://www.nsarchive.org

________________________________________________________

THE NATIONAL SECURITY ARCHIVE is an independent non- governmental
research institute and library located at The George Washington
University in Washington, D.C. The Archive collects and publishes
declassified documents acquired through the Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA). A tax-exempt public charity, the Archive receives no U.S.
government funding; its budget is supported by publication royalties
and donations from foundations and individuals.
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