For anyone that supports the disclosure of top secret historic information and documents, December 29, 2009 was a very good day. On that day, President Obama signed Executive Order 13526 into action. The executive order opens with the following paragraph.
This order prescribes a uniform system for classifying, safeguarding, and declassifying national security information, including information relating to defense against transnational terrorism. Our democratic principles require that the American people be informed of the activities of their Government.
The Executive Order seeks to strike a balance between protecting and classifying sensitive documents that truly need to be classified Secret, Top Secret or beyond, and other documents that are only remaining classified for reasons other than national security.
Conditions for Continued Classification
The order places a long list of condition on the continued classification of documents. The following are particularly notable.
- -> The original classification authority can not only state that the release of information would result in damage to the national security, it must also be able to "identify or describe the damage."
- -> If there is significant doubt as to whether information needs to be classified, this Order requires that it not be classified.
- -> Contrary to popular belief, classified information is not automatically classified due to unauthorized disclosures.
Another fascinating message buried in this order is the statement which reads:
"All original classification authorities must receive training in proper classification (including the avoidance of over-classification) and declassification as provided in this order and its implementing directives at least once a calendar year."
The use of the term over-classification, and in fact the strong lean of this entire document against the phenomenon of "over-classification" hints at a strong, underlying war between the current Administration and the powerhouse known as the Intelligence Community that has kept a firm grip on over-classified information for many decades.
No Information May Remain Classified Indefinitely
In another impressively strong stance, the document takes a firm stance against long-term classification of information. The order states:
"No information may remain classified indefinitely. Information marked for an indefinite duration of classification under predecessor orders, for example, marked as "Originating Agency's Determination Required," or classified information that contains incomplete declassification instructions or lacks declassification instructions shall be declassified in accordance with part 3 of this order."
This statement, created on December 29th, 2009, speaks volumes and makes great strides in providing the American people with the truth regarding long-buried documents describing projects, technologies and attempted research conducted by the government of the United States throughout the 1940s through the 1970s.
I believe that thanks to Executive Order 13526, the American public is going to be made aware of some of the amazing, tragic and sometimes horrifying projects that our government has conducted through the ages. The writers here at Top Secret Writers will continue monitoring and tracking down the release of declassified information, and you will learn about those declassified Top Secret Projects right here on Top Secret Writers.
Ryan Dube is editor-in-chief of TSW and an electrical engineer in the automation industry. He spends his time investigating declassified government documents, legends and conspiracy theories. Ryan has 374 post(s) at Top Secret Writers
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