There are a zillion questions to ask about the recently discovered leak of classified documents… including whether Donald Trump will be treated or charged similarly for his pilfering/leaking of classified material. I have questions myself about that! But this post is about the system itself.
A lifetime ago, I worked in what was at the time the most forward deployed intel unit in the world, with a provisional clearance. For almost two years, provisional. That means not cleared, but we need you to work. Still had access. The whole system needs an overhaul.
Ooof. Thanks for that perspective. Good point. Yeah the whole thing probably does need attention. If you bring in how the White House handles classified material, it seems like there's some serious mess there, too. I would love to see our government be able to take on big problem-solving like this again. Seems like we've been stymied for so many years now without addressing these complex problems. -Vanessa
Apr 15, 2023Liked by Shift the Country, Vanessa Burnett
Is it surprising that the focus of the media in this case is on the "systems"? Common sense dictates a focus on the individual involved. What we see about that is, gasp--how could someone so young have a security clearance? There is no reported indication that a whole network of people were involved. If there were, potential breaches in the "system" would clearly need to be top of mind. However, this appears to be just one individual, one young man who wanted to tout his knowledge to other similar young men. Clearly, the "vetting system" for security clearances needs to be investigated, but in my opinion it would be misplaced not to at least acknowledge that perhaps, as you point out Vanessa, this young man changed after he received his security clearance, and maybe we need more regular confirmations to avoid something like this in the future.
A lifetime ago, I worked in what was at the time the most forward deployed intel unit in the world, with a provisional clearance. For almost two years, provisional. That means not cleared, but we need you to work. Still had access. The whole system needs an overhaul.
Ooof. Thanks for that perspective. Good point. Yeah the whole thing probably does need attention. If you bring in how the White House handles classified material, it seems like there's some serious mess there, too. I would love to see our government be able to take on big problem-solving like this again. Seems like we've been stymied for so many years now without addressing these complex problems. -Vanessa
Is it surprising that the focus of the media in this case is on the "systems"? Common sense dictates a focus on the individual involved. What we see about that is, gasp--how could someone so young have a security clearance? There is no reported indication that a whole network of people were involved. If there were, potential breaches in the "system" would clearly need to be top of mind. However, this appears to be just one individual, one young man who wanted to tout his knowledge to other similar young men. Clearly, the "vetting system" for security clearances needs to be investigated, but in my opinion it would be misplaced not to at least acknowledge that perhaps, as you point out Vanessa, this young man changed after he received his security clearance, and maybe we need more regular confirmations to avoid something like this in the future.
Yeah there were definitely a whole network of people involved. And policies.
Thanks for your comment, as usual! - Vanessa