tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post8427143502592719246..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: SecretsJonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-18633034761658168912010-07-27T08:01:28.918-05:002010-07-27T08:01:28.918-05:00In spring of 1968, I was in a poli sci course taug...In spring of 1968, I was in a poli sci course taught by Prof Jean Edward Smith and for a paper examined the then recently released transcripts of the Senate's second hearings on the Gulf of Tonkin incident. My focus was on passages that had been censored in the transcripts of the original hearings, but were now (1968) declassified. My lifetime conclusion was that much of what was censored didn't help the enemy but hurt the democratic debate in the US by withholding relevant information. The only national secret being protected was that the US military and US politicians sometimes lied or were incompetent.<br />Has anything changed?Johnny canucknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-16066250221106975942010-07-26T16:45:53.107-05:002010-07-26T16:45:53.107-05:00I can see that the government may have reasons to ...I can see that the government may have reasons to classify certain information (diplomacy etc.) However, then it should follow that newspapers shouldn't feel any compunction against printing this information if it becomes known. We shouldn't see any government officials coming out to say that the NY Times is killing our boys in the field because someone printed their dinner menu.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11395787594888587858noreply@blogger.com