The Pentagon

Post Reply New Topic

The Pentagon is the hedquarters of the United States Department of Defense. In The Pentagon people talk about things that everyone else isn't supposed to know. You aren't allowed bringing recording devices into sensitive areas of The Pentagon. You aren't even allowed to bring Furbies into sensitive areas of The Pentagon because they can record what they hear and repeat it. What could they be trying to hide from us?

I recall one time in history when someone revealed what had been said in The Pentagon and it wasn't pretty.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentagon_papers

just sayin'

And so ....?

Quite a bit of that stuff is confidential for legitimate reasons. There are strategic and tactical reasons why we don't want the whole world listening in on our military intelligence operations.

There are such things as legitimate secrets.

None of your G___-D_____ business.

I've always heard that the Pentagon leaks like a sieve, though I imagine it depends on what ring we're talking about. Other people have mentioned that there are things which are legitimately kept secret, though I think most of what's classified is such mostly because it's embarrassing in one way or another.

"The Ship of State is the only ship that leaks from the top."

--Anthony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, Yes Minister.

Wow, Fnord once again epitomizes his characteristic logical streak. What an institution FUNDED BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, whose actions EFFECT PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD, and whose actions are done IN THE NAME OF THE SECURITY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, does is not the business of the American People nor that of foreigners whose action it effect?

And, hey, since you're all against "wealth (re)distribution", why the hell don't you have a problem with the government REDISTRIBUTING CIVILLAN WEALTH towards the Pentagon?

This said, I do think one could make a valid or near-valid argument that some of the things the Pentagon does is best kept secret. But Fnord certainly doesn't (as usual).

+1

Anyone here ever read 'The Secret Team' by L. Fletcher Prouty? Provides an interesting insight into this whole discussion, as well as some background as to the origin of the Pentagon Papers.

Do you seriously want our enemies to be privy to all military preparations and operations. Every nation that has a military force has to take the proper intentions of their own military on faith. If they cannot do that then it is time to abolish the nation.

ruveyn

why are some here so quick to equate open government with leaking military secrets?
Its not about military secrets but the question of what are the real reasons why we're involved in xxx and why do we only find out about yyy 40 years after the fact?
For the most part normal people keep secrets because they like their jobs and guaranteed retirement. the rest is just politics.
<sarc>
its the wackos that think that joe six pack needs to know why we record all your email.
</sarc>

Personal attacks aside, you have yet to present an argument that would convince me that knowing what the Pentagon staff is hiding from the American people would be both right and proper.

I suggest that you present your arguments to the Pentagon officials first-hand. Please have valid identification on your person, and the telephone number of your legal representative or defense attorney. You may also wish to notify the Media, just in case the Pentagon staff is unimpressed with your "righteous" indignation, and arrests you for trespass into a secure military area.

Good luck.

Secrecy is not unique to the military, nor is it unique to government.

Let's compare the Pentagon with private industry.

The Pentagon is led by civilian leaders, who answer to the President. Congress--composed exclusively of civilians, has the sole jurisdiction to appropriate funds for the Department of Defence (in common with all other government agencies). In turn, Congress can and does demand that government make itself accountable to Congress for the money that has been appropriated.

We know that the Pentagon (and every other government department) has secrets, and we know that the American electorate elects a Congress with the responsibility for satisfying itself that what is done in secret is done within the framework authorized by them.

But what of private industry?

There is much that is secret in private industry: research and development; contract negotiations; mergers and acquisitions--all of these things happen in secret. We countenance the secrecy because it supposedly creates a fair and equitable marketplace. But to whom are corporate leaders accountable? To directors, certainly--but contemporary proxy practices generally put corporate directorships within the gift of corporate officers. To shareholders? Certainly some level of accountability for results is required--but so long as the dollars pour out in proportion to the investments that have gone in, shareholders will happily cash their dividend cheques and remain content.

Okay, the Pentagon has nukes and Microsoft doesn't. The Pentagon has the means to pursue a war of aggression pretty much anywhere on the planet and Pfizer doesn't. But I still think the Pentagon is far more accountable for its secrets than Goldman Sachs.

Unless Pfizer (or etc) decided to hire out a private military company to "secure" its assets in a given place overseas

All right, since there are no legitimate secrets, please provide the forum with these pieces of information:

• Real name
• Real location (geocoordinates and address, not "Australia")
• Mother's maiden name
• Credit card number and expiration date

I understand if you do not wish to divulge this information, but not doing so does refute your own argument.

I'm going to assume, for the moment that corporate interests are, by and large, content to secure their assets through commercial means rather than the projection of force. (However, I remain fully aware of the exceptions that define that "by and large.")

[shudder]