Abusing Secrets

originally published at TomPaine.com Abusing Secrets

The White House decision to release the now-infamous Aug. 6, 2001 President’s Daily Brief not only shows the Bush administration could not be trusted when it previously characterized the document as merely a "historical" analysis that made the obvious point that Osama bin Laden was interested in traditional hijacking. This briefing—which noted that bin Laden was determined to strike within the United States and that Al Qaeda apparently had set up a support structure in this country—also provides proof, if any more is needed, that this White House cannot be trusted whenever it argues it must keep information secret. The PDB episode is but one in a line of instances when the Bush White House hid information and claimed releasing the material would compromise national security or the presidency, when the real motive was protecting its own rear end.