Why did Bush change his tune on secret prisons and prisoners?

[Diesel66]

Originally Posted by Kytro

I disagree with state secrets, my government should have zero secrets from me

Yes lets publish the security components of the white house, exactly where the secret enterences are, their passcode/keys etc......

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by Kytro

I disagree with state secrets, my government should have zero secrets from me

Not everything is meant to be public, nor should it be. Could you imagine if all our technology and military intelligence became public knowledge?

While it's a very utopian idea, it would never work... nor would it be to our benefit.

[R-Type]

Originally Posted by Diesel66

Well when you have agents of the govt released classified reports daily (or stealing them like Sandy)




If they truly believe the public needs to know about a project because the govt is breaking the Constitution/morals etc.... fine. But releasing them just for the sake of releasing them is idiotic and dangerous.

As far as protecting the basic concepts which this nation is founded on, I think it is less dangerous allowing occasional 'secrets' out than it is allowing governmental officials to hide their dirty laundry. This is similar in concept to a justice system that lets some guilty people go so that innocents' rights are protected from unlawful incarceration. The bias must be towards transparency or, as we've seen, our duly elected officials start to have delusions of godhood. I think that if a secret is that objectively critical to the security of this nation (and not just the political security of some politicians), it WILL remain hidden from the public until such time it is deemed ok for release. There is no such thing as total security, and if such a thing was possible, I don't think it would be healthy for our system.

[Kytro]

Originally Posted by JaJae

While it's a very utopian idea, it would never work... nor would it be to our benefit.

Perhaps, but idealisticaly I am against secrets in government as a rule.

In reality there are reasons to hide some information, but I think far to much is hidden, nor is there any acoountability for what is hidden

[motivez]

Supreme Court decision (Hamdan I believe) has had some dramatic effects on the way the Bush administration believes they can act without Congressional approval and in the face of Congressional intent.