Spy Thriller Novel Reveals Dangers of Overclassification of CIA Documents

 

The insidious practice of overclassifying sensitive documents is a ticking time bomb that threatens to detonate at any moment, as it involves recklessly branding information as classified, even when it doesn't warrant such extreme secrecy. This dangerous game of secrecy can lead to dire consequences, putting national security at risk and undermining the public's right to know.

     Overclassification restricts access to important information and poses a threat to national security by creating a false sense of security- truly vital intelligence becomes lost in a sea of trivial documents marked as classified.

     Imagine a team of CIA analysts trying to protect national security by gathering intelligence on terrorist groups, but the CIA receives a high volume of reports on a daily basis, ranging from trivial matters like the purchase of suspicious chemicals by a hobbyist to more critical information about planned terrorist attacks.

     If the CIA were to overclassify all these reports as "top secret" without proper consideration of their actual level of sensitivity, the CIA analytical team would be bogged down trying to find truly critical information about planned terrorist attacks that was lost in a sea of trivial reports. It would take them more time and effort to identify and respond to real threats, which would place all of us in harm’s way.

     Secondly, it can lead to a lack of transparency, undermining public trust in government institutions. The public has a right to access information that pertains to issues that affect them. Overclassification undermines the public's right to know, and when documents that should be available to them are hidden behind a veil of secrecy, it makes it harder for citizens to hold their government accountable and participate in democratic decision-making.

     Finally, overclassification can be used to hide government misconduct or mistakes, leading to a lack of accountability. One specific instance of this was the My Lai Massacre during the Vietnam War. The incident involved the killing of hundreds of unarmed civilians, including women and children, by U.S. soldiers in 1968.

     Despite initial reports of the massacre, the U.S. government classified the incident, preventing it from becoming public knowledge for over a year. This prevented accountability for those involved in the massacre and highlights how the classification of information can be used to hide government misconduct and mistakes.

     In a world where information is power, overclassification of sensitive documents has become a grave concern. By restricting access to important information, overclassification can put national security at risk, undermine public trust in government institutions, and even conceal government misconduct or mistakes. It's time to recognize the dangers of overclassification and take action to ensure that classified documents are only marked as such when absolutely necessary.

     In the MISSION OF VENGEANCE spy thriller, CIA spymaster Corey Pearson understands this all too well. As he oversaw the intelligence gathering that led up to the successful raids on Spetsnaz sleeper cells in the Dominican Republic, he was acutely aware of the need to maintain the balance between national security with the public's right to know.

     In one scene, Pearson explained to U.S. President Rhinehart, "There is much highly classified information that led up to these raids, which I cannot reveal, for the sources and methods must remain secret for reasons of national security."

     As the saying goes, "knowledge is power," but in the wrong hands, overclassification can turn that power into a dangerous weapon. Corey Pearson and his team understand the importance of responsible handling of sensitive information. In MISSION OF VENGEANCE, his careful balance between national security and the public's right to know ultimately leads to the successful raids on Spetsnaz sleeper cells, and many American lives were saved. After the raids were completed, the classified files that led up to it were released to the public.

     But in the real world, overclassification can pose a grave threat to this delicate balance and could have far-reaching implications. It's time to learn from Pearson's example and promote transparency, accountability, and responsible handling of sensitive information. Let's defuse the ticking time bomb of overclassification before it's too late, for the good of our nation and the world. 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and enjoys writing about the U.S. Intelligence Community. He authors the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster series. Check out his latest spy thrillers: MISSION OF VENGEANCE.