Such a sad commentary
Mar 22, 2005 | 6:24 pm
#1
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Such a sad commentary
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...workagainstyou
"It has the whiff of a stand-up routine. A high government official calls a news conference to announce an important new development. But he can't tell you exactly what it is, who is involved or how to find out more about it.
This sort of thing actually happens. As it did in February of 2002, when then-Transportation Security Administration (TSA) director John Magaw called the national press together to address the flying public's growing unrest about new security measures instituted after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Director Magaw proudly announced that the TSA had appointed an ombudsman to provide a "simple but very complete passenger-complaint system." Unfortunately, the director said he could not divulge the name of the new ombudsman or contact information because it had been declared "security sensitive information."
We are inclined to dismiss such incidents as bureaucratic burps from Washington, a government stranger than comedy. Instead, they're part of a significant shift in this nation's information policy. Since 9/11, restrictions on disclosure of even routine government information, such as the telephone directory at the Pentagon (news - web sites), have spread at an alarming rate."
"It has the whiff of a stand-up routine. A high government official calls a news conference to announce an important new development. But he can't tell you exactly what it is, who is involved or how to find out more about it.
This sort of thing actually happens. As it did in February of 2002, when then-Transportation Security Administration (TSA) director John Magaw called the national press together to address the flying public's growing unrest about new security measures instituted after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Director Magaw proudly announced that the TSA had appointed an ombudsman to provide a "simple but very complete passenger-complaint system." Unfortunately, the director said he could not divulge the name of the new ombudsman or contact information because it had been declared "security sensitive information."
We are inclined to dismiss such incidents as bureaucratic burps from Washington, a government stranger than comedy. Instead, they're part of a significant shift in this nation's information policy. Since 9/11, restrictions on disclosure of even routine government information, such as the telephone directory at the Pentagon (news - web sites), have spread at an alarming rate."
Mar 22, 2005 | 7:57 pm
#2
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Concerning the McGaw press conference, the worst thing was that the press actually showed up.
I'm quite familiar with the Information Security Oversight Office. Until Bush came into office, you feared an ISOO inspection.
An ironic twist to all this is the President who was so concerned about overclassification that he created the ISOO in the first place was -- Richard Nixon.
Nixon also created the EPA, FWIW...
I'm quite familiar with the Information Security Oversight Office. Until Bush came into office, you feared an ISOO inspection.
An ironic twist to all this is the President who was so concerned about overclassification that he created the ISOO in the first place was -- Richard Nixon.
Nixon also created the EPA, FWIW...
Mar 23, 2005 | 6:11 am
#4
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Originally Posted by usm eagle
Is a political action group avalible for travelers to deal with TSA abuses? I think thier is enough grounds for a action committee to lobby congress for accountability of TSA.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=401237
Mar 23, 2005 | 6:33 am
#5
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I'm not so sure I can disagree with the ombudsman's secrecy. If I were he (or she, as the case may be), given the current service levels of the TSA, I'm not so sure I'd want the public to be able to find me, either.
Mike
Mike