LEADERS create an atmosphere. That is hardly a brilliant observation but I think it is particularly pertinent now. Our most senior, trusted leaders have a problem keeping classified national security information, well, classified and secure.
Though national security in handling secrets goes back at least as far as the ancient Greek city states, our own United States derived its current system immediately after World War II. And while means of gathering information have expanded exponentially, the law, as ever, is a bit behind technological advances. The basic classification system has changed quite little.
Frankly, we do not need more regulations. What we need is more personal responsibility, particularly among some of our nation’s leaders.
In recent years, Hillary Clinton had her private email server receiving and sending classified intelligence. Donald Trump had his cache of unsecured documents at Mara Lago. And now President Joe Biden seems to own new discoveries every few days. And their partisans and critics flip-flop between being apologists and attack dogs depending upon their own political preferences. Were it not so serious this shifting logic could be a hilarious comedy skit for Saturday Night Live.
The email debacle is frightful in that it revealed governmental relationships, personal relationships which might be exploited, and other emails readily hacked by some folks who are quite adept at that. As for the documents of the two Presidents — I know not what they hold, nor do I want to.
However, I do know from experience that some intelligence often seems to be of no consequence and that the real find for an adversary is learning how we know. I know of drug smuggling cases that were dropped because the prospect that the means and methods used being exposed would not be worth the cost of putting a few bad guys away. Arresting officers were never pleased, and I do not blame them.
The chattering class includes those who speak of legal matters, those who pontificate on political consequence, and also those who speak of the “public’s right to know.” Having held a “top secret clearance” for 26 years and “special access” for five, I am a bit more concerned with the public’s right to be safe. I knew the recently released Cuban spy Ana Belen Montes, and know a portion of the damage she did to America and Americans. It’s not all in the related books.
Incidentally, I also personally knew two serving officers who had their commissions vacated for offenses much less egregious than those mentioned above by our senior leaders. No one should be above the law.
Circling back, leaders do create an atmosphere. Yes, there is direct guidance the boss puts forth, but at least as important are the standards the boss lives by. It becomes ambient to their colleagues and charges. When I was on active duty, my shipmates and I always knew the commanding officer’s boundaries, whether spoken or not.
The close associates come to know what the boss will and will not abide, even if unspoken or hypothetical. Seems some senior leaders own lax standards or prefer sycophants to those who speak the truth to power.
The former secretary of state, the former president, and our current president failed in their patriotic trust.
Ray Brown is a former intelligence officer who lives in Londonderry.
SUNSHINE WEEK has come and gone. This newspaper has stated: “Trust in public institutions relies on our ability to shine sunlight wherever we find shadows.”
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