Ethics

Take This Pledge, Candidates

By Ed Brayton

Nat Hentoff has a column urging all of the candidates for president to pledge to reveal all of the things the Bush administration has illegitimately hid from us over the last 7 years. He quotes Steven Aftergood of the Federation of American Scientists' Project on Government Secrecy:

"By now no one expects the Bush administration to make itself accountable for its controversial and possibly illegal practices. But the next president will have the authority to declassify and disclose any and all records that reflect the activities of executive branch agencies....

"It goes without saying that genuine national security secrets such as confidential sources and legally authorized intelligence methods should be protected from disclosure." But with regard to other secret actions and policies, Aftergood continues, "the new administration could demonstrate a clean break with its predecessor, and lay the foundation for a more transparent and accountable presidency."

Full post as published by Dispatches from the Culture Wars on February 29, 2008 (boomark / email).