ISOO’s Leonard: Excessive Secrecy Undermines National Security
The departing director of the Information Security Oversight Office says the federal government needs to reduce secrecy and become more open to win the war on terror. “As a nation, we are engaged in an ideological struggle. Such times call for increased transparency on the part of our government, not less,” William J. Leonard told OpenTheGovernment. “It is traditional American ideals and values that will allow us to prevail in these uncertain times. Excessive secrecy at best can reduce us to a caricature in the minds of both the American and world populace. At worst, it can facilitate us engaging in conduct that is inconsistent with our core ideals and values, which in the long-term undermines our leadership in the world and thus our national security.” (12/12/07)