Welcome to the Third Degree: Tough, Brief, Weekly Interrogations that force thinking and response. This Sunday we target: Speculation
What is the view from down the plain, the ordinary citizen’s appreciation or speculation, of the whole, classification matter? Has the climate changed?
Does sanctimony and puffery plus pundit speculation contribute to an informed, or a trusted, perspective? Same old wind whipping down?
Basically, is there little knowledge or experience with real classified information or that so labelled?
Is a sideline temptation overwhelming this football season to remind that knowledge starts with “N”– in Nebraska anyway? Speculating, is such erudition widespread on many subjects?
Pressing on, is it speculation or expectation that the proper role of the intelligence world is gathering, categorizing and, arraying for use, information designed to protect and advance national interests?
Should we properly speculate/evaluate on how well, or properly, they do just that? What examples, even measures of merit or demerit, come to mind?
Is protection of intelligence a difficult chore compounded by always vulnerable technology and numbers, literally millions of Americans privy to classified information at one level or another ?
Is there awareness that the much bandied about “Confidential, Secret and Top Secret” levels represent just a slice of the classification pie?
Do terms “SCI”, “SAP’, (Sensitive Compartmented Information and Special Access Program) along with “SITK”, (Special Intelligence Talent Keyhole) or Gamma roll off the tongue? Hardly? Is “need to know” the entry point for these much higher-level clearances?
Is the Single Integrated Operations Plan, the nation’s nuclear war plan, or any successor, restricted to a very few key leaders but executable by an authorized and dedicated many?
Can we properly speculate that methods and sources are especially sensitive, and the communication and dissemination of derived information is, of itself, subject to highly classified and controlled channels, even personal courier?
Finally, can we speculate that there is information and process so sensitive that even existence is at a “no speak or acknowledge” level except by those ‘read in’?
So what? Since information is power, how about pretense? Is over-classification a problem? Moreover, are mistakes or wrongdoing concealed by shields of secrecy?
Is such speculation necessary? Do experiences over the last years point to manufacture, manipulation (or inaction) and illegal use of classification for political purpose and to cover up misdeeds?
Should speculation, plus smoke or fire, lead to investigation to determine truth and damage?
Referencing the ‘found’ classified Trump and Biden documents, besides obvious offense, is content key?
Is speculation warranted about real or possible national damage or “private” information that exonerates or incriminates, with attendant acute personal or political embarrassment or worse? How will we know? Therein, lies the rub?
Would or will a privileged (or partisan) intelligence and justice class protect, persecute or prosecute? Will wind of revelation replace speculation? Would that be real climate change?
Socrates reminds: “The unexamined life is not worth living. The answers and actions remain yours.
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