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parrothead wrote:

Whistleblowing can be done in a non-public way through proper channels. Posting classified info aint' the way to do it. I'm a civilian, too, but I'll personally lock up anyone who engages in espionage or commits treason. Talk to the bosses and congressmen, but don't blab it on a public board.

I just wish I wasn't a civilian sometimes Wink

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Wondering how you feel about the NYT printing revelations about the Bush administration having access to Americans' phone records and bank account information. Do you think the NYT's actions can be considered an act of treason? Also, when said bosses and/or congressmen are unresponsive, cannot the public forum of the press be a legitimate way of calling attention to a problem that would otherwise remain unattended? How do you feel about Watergate, Deep Throat, Woodward & Bernstein et al?

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The point is, if you're entrusted with Classified data, and you have the clearance for it... I don't think its legal to leak it. The NYT wasnt under those restrictions. While what they did was treason, the real people responsible are those who leaked it to them in the first place.

Elite 3K Joined: May 10, 2004 Posts: 3026 Status: Offline

idesof wrote:

parrothead wrote:

Whistleblowing can be done in a non-public way through proper channels. Posting classified info aint' the way to do it. I'm a civilian, too, but I'll personally lock up anyone who engages in espionage or commits treason. Talk to the bosses and congressmen, but don't blab it on a public board.

I just wish I wasn't a civilian sometimes Wink

.

Wondering how you feel about the NYT printing revelations about the Bush administration having access to Americans' phone records and bank account information. Do you think the NYT's actions can be considered an act of treason? Also, when said bosses and/or congressmen are unresponsive, cannot the public forum of the press be a legitimate way of calling attention to a problem that would otherwise remain unattended? How do you feel about Watergate, Deep Throat, Woodward & Bernstein et al?

I think that's getting a bit Off Topic

and a bit too far into politics, but I feel I should answer anyway. The phone records were not "phone records" in the usual sense, they were merely logs of which number had called which other number - this had been previously cleared by the Supreme Court as there were no names involved. The bank records were overseas transactions which did not impinge on U.S. privacy and the program was completely legal - as acknowledged by the NYT in their article. If publishing details of classified government programs which seek to prevent acts of terrorism during a time of war is not an act of treason, I don't know what is.

I don't know that Deep Throat, a Secret Service agent, ever went through the proper channels of Congress etc. I'm sure someone in Congress would've loved to have championed the case against Nixon even without the newspaper article. In any case, it was not the way I'd have gone about it.

I seriously doubt that anyone would have trouble finding a sympathetic ear for a greviance in some corner of the U.S. Congress. I also see no need to publish the weaknesses of a new, very classified weapons system in the public domain such as this forum.

Back On Topic

,

The design of the F-35 has yet to be finalized as AA-1 is a production representative prototype. There are still several years until the Lightning II sees full production and making classified details public during a time of research and development is not healthy for one's career and ill advised no matter what the current problem is. All weapons systems have weaknesses and keeping those secret is a big step towards winning the next conflict Wink

.

EDIT: I also want to say that as I have never been a part of a classified program and having never held a security clearance, I do not know the official proceedures for addressing grievences. I know that those who hold those clearances know the proper proceedures and I pray that they will follow them if and when the time comes.

I believe at least the F-35A design is finalized as I think it past its final design review earlier this year admid some jubilation. The first prototype not being at that level is not relevant.

Personally I think this whole thread is someone having a bit of fun and shouldn't be taken too seriously.

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