An article in the Boston Phoenix examines "four distinct ways" in which the Bush administration is aggressively working to prevent public scrutiny. "[I]t has widened the range of classification and otherwise confidential (but non-classified) materials. It has expanded its ability to criminally prosecute government employees who leak such materials. It has signaled a willingness to move against reporters who publish those leaks. And, most significantly, it is using new 'material support' statutes to do an end run around the First Amendment and criminalize many forms of political advocacy."
According to Secrecy News, a report to President Bush by the Information Security Oversight Office shows that classification of information is up 25% over last year, with over 14 million new "secrets." The report states, "Allowing information that will not cause damage to national security to remain in the classification system, or to enter the system in the first instance, places all classified information at needless increased risk."
Behind the Homefront
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