The PIDB looks forward to hearing your comments on the following new papers:
Paper 3: Regularizing the Declassification Review of Classified Congressional Records
- Systematize and prioritize the declassification review of Legislative records at the NDC
Paper 4: Discretionary Declassification and Release of Contemporary National Security Information
- Encourage policymakers to consider the advantages of not classifying certain categories of information or declassifying before prescribed deadlines
Paper 5: Simplifying the Declassification Review Process for Historical Records
- Transfer agency declassification authority to the National Declassification Center (NDC) after declassification exemption timelines have lapsed
Any attempt at transforming the classification process must take into account motives that are less than noble: “Ellsberg said that governments go to great lengths to conceal information that could lead to accountability, embarrassment, or blame” http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/2011/03/pentagon-papers_wikileaks.html