January 22, 2005
By Douglas J. Hagmann
National Public Radio is reporting that Internet website was taken down on Friday by federal officials for publishing "reports about tips on possible terrorist activity that have been filed with the Department of Homeland Security." At first read, that statement causes concern as it suggests that the Department of Homeland Security has silenced a website for providing terrorism activity updates with the American people. Reading further into the news report, however, it states: "Federal officials say the information [published on the website] is not classified but is sensitive, and could jeopardize some investigations and undercover operatives." Despite that clarification, many otherwise sensible and rational people will condemn the government's action as a move by big brother to keep the public in the dark, relegating everyone outside of a select few to "sheeple status." I could not disagree more.
At issue is the website Cryptome.org, operated by 69 year-old John Young - an architect by profession. From his writings, Mr. Young appears to be a colorful man with some interesting sources and very controversial tactics. His website has been the apparent center of controversy for some time due to the type of information that he published. For example, Young's site was the topic of an ABC news story on August 12, 2004 that was titled "Too Much information?" ABC News noted that Young publicly posted information about the 2004 Democratic National Convention, including satellite photos of the convention site and the location of specific police barricades. He further referenced that the security for the convention was "a complete joke," generating complaints to authorities about the nature of the material he placed in the public domain. ABC News stated that "in response to a complaint, two special agents from the FBI's counterterrorism office in New York City interviewed Young in November 2003. They said, 'Why didn't you call us about this? Why are you telling the public?' And we said, 'Because it's out there and you can see it. You folks weren't doing anything,' " Young told ABC News.
The ABC news segment continued: "I know there are a lot of people in the government who find him troublesome," said former White House terrorism adviser Richard Clarke, now an ABC News consultant. "There is a real tension here between the public's right to know and civil liberties, on the one hand, and security on the other." But Young argues his actions enhance national security, since he points out to the public vulnerabilities the government does not want to acknowledge.
Undoubtedly, conspiracy minded people will be quick to cry foul, perhaps contending that Young had a right to publish such information on his site. Many will vociforoursly lament the unconstrained powers of the Patriot Act, a tool that could ostensibly strip a person's civil rights at the drop of a hat. Although I too have some concerns about the effectuality of the Patriot Act, I don't think that the Patriot Act is the issue here. The issue is much more mundane and less controversial - common sense. You see, the war against terrorism is everyone's fight, and we all have a responsibility to our nation to assist. Like the phrase commonly (albeit erroneously) associated with the Hippocratic oath "first, do no harm," it is essential that we do not recklessly expose our vulnerabilities in an effort to have them corrected.
Without a doubt, our vulnerabilites in terms of the security of our nation are too numerous to mention, and the unresponsiveness of many federal agencies to sources outside of their organization is legendary and very frustrating. Regardless, the "frustration factor" does not give anyone the license to publish information that could be used against us, especially when we are at war. Perhaps it is necessary to remind everyone that we are at war - and adopt a war mentality so we can defeat and not aid the enemy. Perhaps we should also remind the federal agencies charged with our security that there is value to open source intelligence, and contrary to their beliefs, smug indifference is not a very attractive trait. As succinctly stated by our own analyst Randy Taylor - "the war on terror is everyone's war, everyone's fight." Let's act like it - before its too late.
http://www.homelandsecurityus.com/jan05.asp