Thank you, Christina. You make some good points. Of course it is difficult to speak up about something as complex as records declassification/reclassification. Many of you post about things I know nothing about and I don't speak up on them. I apologize for not having posted links to some of NARA's regulations on declassification, researcher's rights to request mandatory review, etc. I'm still looking for a good succinct recap of that stuff -- pause while everyone chuckles at Maarja's use of the word succinct. In the meantime, you and others on the List might want to take a look at some of the pertinent regulations. See http://www.archives.gov/about/regulations/part-1260.html I appreciate your sticking you neck out on this issue -- I know many people simply don't feel comfortable doing that!! -- and hope you find the link useful. Today's NYT also runs an editorial about the NARA reclassification issue: "Putting the Cat Back Into the Bag." See http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/19/opinion/19weds4.html (registration required) Money quote: "The new director of the National Archives, Allen Weinstein, rightly put a stop to this nonsense as soon as he heard about it. But he will need to do more than just abrogate these suspect agreements with the C.I.A. and the Air Force. He will need to figure out how they came about in the first place. The former director, John Carlin, has said he knows nothing about them. They appear to have been signed only by the assistant archivist." I hope Dr. Weinstein does manage to look at how this came about, without any unnecessary scapegoating, etc. Having been at the receiving end of incoming fire in Washington, I wouldn't wish that on anyone, including Michael Kurtz (who signed the agreements). We haven't heard his side of this yet. All in all, I think it's best to look at environmental issues and causes. Maarja A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>