The Difference Between Security, Secrets & Lying

I am a veteran of the US Navy and the Army National Guard. Part of my military training involved standard security. In boot camp they made a big deal about physical security, including the Eleven General Orders of a Sentry which every recruit was required to know by memory within the first two weeks of training. (Oddly, the Army only had Three General Orders of a Sentry.) Additionally, military training inlcuded training on identification techniques, understanding document and workplace security, as well as the basic levels of security clearance and classification in the military: confidential, secret and top secret.

As a general rule, everything that was routinely handled in the military was considered "confidential." An ordinary soldier, sailor, airman or marine was never supposed to speak to members of the press, reveal operations, or discuss daily tasks unless it was with the approval of several layers of the chain of command. Additionally, the military has an entire echelon of people that deal with publicity, recruiting and incident control, so no ordinary military member was ever to discuss incidents or issues with anyone outside of the command, and even within that chain the "need to know" rule applied: only those with an operational need to know something were in the know.

Additionally, all troop movements, changes of duty station, orders, and maneuvers were strictly operated under the "need to know" rule. Base, field and command center security were emphasized over and over. As a Hospital Corpsman/Medic I was charged with dealing with confidential matters involving patient care on a daily basis. As a leading NCO for my National Guard medical unit I was also required to assure security for our unit as well. On one of our "summer camps" our unit was given a unit citation for our security procedures because we would not allow anyone through our lines of defense or into our command post without a series of passwords and procedures, had top-notch physical security in place, and had a team of communications specialists that really knew their stuff when it came to field telephones and electronic security measures.

Later, I developed security skills and expertise as the person in charge of planning all physical and electronic security for over 300 buildings in the US for a large broadband communications provider. Additionally, because of my expertise in interviewing techniques and electronic security systems, I was well-versed in investigation and interrogation. On top of all of this, I hold a black belt in Kodokan Judo and have over 25 years of teaching/practicing Kodokan Judo, Hombu Aikido, Aiki-Jitsu, Ko Tomoe Ryu Ju-Jitsu, as well as several styles of karate-do.

I offer that "resume" to justify the rest of my comments.

There is a dramatic difference between operating in a secure manner that protects operational secrets and provides for the safety of operatives, officers and officials, and the lies and ideological agendas we have experienced under the current Commander-in-Chief and his executive leadership.

Keeping operational secrets does not require lying to the citizens, congress or others. Operational secrets are best kept by not commenting on them at all and refering all inquiries about these matters up the chain of command until the request reaches the appropriate level of oversight.

Keeping our nation secure from terrorists threats does not require the abandonment of civil liberties. Indeed, our nation is more secure with our civil liberties fully in place. By adhering to these liberties we assure that we remain the "land of the free" and give our troops and our leaders reason to demonstrate the bravery we hold in the highest esteem.

National security does not require absolute power invested in the executive branch. Indeed, as the world learned from Nazi Germany and Adolph Hitler, we are more secure from internal and external threats when our system of checks and balances remain fully intact and operational.

Secrecy and lying are not the same thing. Secrecy is a measure of security that keeps operations, maneuvers and identities safe from the eyes of those that do not need to know, or those targeted by our legitimate operations. Lying is just that... Lying is misleading our officials, our leaders and our nation from understanding the truth. Lying is the tactic of the untrustworthy and the ignorant. Lying is a childish tool for avoiding consequences, engaging in denial and operating under a certain level of delusional or "magical" thinking. Lying is a clear sign that there is systemic, organizational and/or individual dysfunction.

Secrecy and security do not require extraordinary measures. The best security relies upon layers of well-established procedures, processes, training, re-training and the use of technology as tools. The best security relies on repitition of proven measures, a constant effort of evaluating the effectiveness of these measures, effective communication and a continuum of training of all involved in the operational tasks. Security does not require idiotic measures like the removal of shoes, the banning of liquids for all passengers, profiling all members of an ethnic or religious group, or the current level of paranoia our executive leadership is currently touting during what has been described as the "nation's silly season of politics." Secrecy and security do not require us to develop hideaways like those depicted in Harry Potter's "Chamber of Secrets," the underground technology centers depicted in "Enemy of the State," or the silliness we saw depicted in "Dr. Strangelove." The best security systems rely upon us taking a serious look at our vulnerabilities and taking appropriate steps to correct the problems created by being vulnerable. Secrecy is but one tool of security. Lying is NEVER a tool of good security.

But as I watched Ted Koppel's Discovery Channel special on the issues of secrecy, national security and civil liberties I realized how many times our president and his gang of thugs have lied to us... and justified it in the name of national security and operational secrecy. As I watched Vice President Dick "Shoot First" Cheney on Meet The Press today, I realized that we were being lied to again. As I watched the events of 9-11 depicted in the ABC special commemorating the losses, shock and heroism of that day and thereafter, I realized that we were being lied to once again. As I review the NSA surveillance programs, the process of extraordinary rendition, the breach of international laws, and the loads of bovine excrement that is being heaped at us by Cheney, Bush, Rumsfeld, Gonzalez, Rice, Chertoff and their minions to justify lying to us, I realize how deep the lying is built into the Bush administration as a way of doing business.

There is a difference between national security, operational secrecy, fully implementing the "war on terrorism" and the dastardly deeds being done in our name at this time. Liars are always explaining away their actions. Leaders do not lie about what is going on, but lead us to believe that they can be trusted with great authority, great undertakings and great achievements. Liars resort to excuses while leaders demonstrate results.

Properly implemented security and secrecy measures do not leave us with doubts, questions and worries. Indeed, properly implemented security and secrecy assures us we are safe and living up to our valued principles and standards (c.f. the Constitution). Lying leaves us with doubts, promotes our fears, exploits our reactions and abandons our principles.

If we do a simple analysis of how many times Mr. Bush and his gang have lied to us versus how many times they have told the truth, produced reliable and verifiable results, violated our principles and made excuses, we see how unbalanced our current efforts for security and secrecy really are... it gives us perspective.

IMPEACH THE BASTARD AND HIS GANG OF THUGS!