Snip----"After the agreement was made public last
week, many archivists complained publicly about not only the secrecy of the
agreement, but also its language, which suggests that the National Archives
considers deceit to be an acceptable tool in dealing with researchers. "It is in
the interests of both the CIA and the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA)," the document says, "to avoid the kind of public notice
and researcher complaints that may arise from removing from the open shelves for
extended periods of time records that had been publicly available."
"I
think that sentence is very inartfully worded," said Mr. Kurtz. "I certainly did
not think that that was the mission of the National Archives to, how should I
put it, to fool people -- to deceive. At the same time, the concern of these
agencies was that there was national-security information improperly released,
so we had to strike a balance ... between protecting national-security
information and having the maximum access
possible."---Snip
Round up the Liberal media. And the
Conservative media. Geez, if only people didn't know so much they'd have
nothing to complain about.
Thanks to you Maarja, and all, for
keeping us up on the declassé declassification debacle. Thanks, particularly,
Bruce, for that link to the Chronicle of Higher Ed. article. Nice to see, at
long last, some comments from Michael Kurtz (whom I only know from his good work
with Polish archivists back in the day) on his role in this affair. Maybe no
heart of darkness behind the actions, Mr. Kurtz, but not proud moments, having
signed those memoranda of understanding. "Inartfully worded?" That ain't
half of it. Kinda puts the dumb in memorandumb, don't it? Granted, it's not
Presidentialjism on an intern's dress, but it'll do for incriminating. Pretty
odd that John Carlin says he did not read the memos at the time. Dang, that
was a big agreement to leave to a subordinate. What was that, a Kenlaying off of
hands? Hmmm. Mistakes were made, I guess. No, let me guess.
President Bush authorized Scooter Libby to authorize Colonel Sam Flagg to
authorize the first person he met at Archives II to sign the things when
John Carlin was out of town. I look forward to the NARA reclass audit
news. Thank you, Mr. Weinstein, for organizing that. If ever I,
gulp, wrote anything negative about you in one of my intermittent posts to
this listserv, I hope that it will soon be classified and removed from the
listserv archives. If that can't be done, and the terms "Bush" and
"stooge" appear in close proximity, let's just call it inartful wording, shall
we?
If not so proud of
certain archival colleagues for their roleing over, not to say kurtzying, when
shown the instruments(and which of us knows what he or she would have done at
that time and place?), I am proud of one my Beloit College cohort, Matthew Aid,
for his part in making this private public papers pogrom program public. Here's
some background that y'all may have missed http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB179/ He always did enjoy a good conspiracy, did Matthew, and the
nuttier the better. Nothing he liked more than stories of spying,
subterfuge, and treachery as precticed by the inept. Makes me ask myself
what I've done for my country lately. And I have to answer, not much. Not
much. What happened to my zeal to kick ass and take names? What
happened to yours? Sold out for some sense of security, I suppose.
All those who feel secure, signify by saying nothing and hiding under your
desks. See you there. Bring your own cheese.
Your Pensive
Pen-pal,
Michael "Don't Much Write 'em Like That Anymore"
Tarabulski
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Collections
530 S. Asbury Street, Suite 4
Moscow, ID 83843
Phone:
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208-885-3871
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