President Barack Obama ordered on Wednesday a review of how the United States keeps and classifies its secrets and instructed his top administration officials to lean toward disclosure when they can. Obama instructed his national security adviser to report to him with recommendations how to share information among federal agencies and with the public. He said he did not want to leave documents kept secret without a clear reason based on national security. “While the government must be able to prevent the public disclosure of information where such disclosure would compromise the privacy of US citizens, national security or other legitimate interests, a democratic government accountable to the people must be as transparent as possible and must not withhold information for self-serving reasons or simply to avoid embarrassment,” Obama said in a memo released from the White House. The president also created a task force, led by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Eric Holder, to recommend how to ensure that “the handling and dissemination of information is not restricted unless there is a compelling need.” Transparency has been the watchword of this president. He has demanded the details of his $787 billion economic stimulus plan be posted to a Web site, ordered classified memos from his predecessor's administration released and has streamed White House events online. On his first day in office, Obama reversed a policy on releasing government documents so there is a “presumption in favor of disclosure.” That style of governing, though, has left the president open to critics, including former vice president Dick Cheney, who worry too much information has left the nation weaker. Obama and his top aides, sensitive to the criticism, insist their disclosures are in no way threatening the nation. “While I believe strongly in transparency and accountability, I also believe that in a dangerous world, the United States must sometimes carry out intelligence operations and protect information that is classified for purposes of national security,” Obama said last month when releasing the Bush-era memos on torture. “I have already fought for that principle in court and will do so again in the future.” The president's order on Wednesday asked national security adviser Gen. James Jones to weigh in on what Obama called a National Declassification Center. If adopted, the panel would bring together agencies and departments to collaborate on making public some documents. Obama aides have lamented overly aggressive classification and inconsistent restrictions. For instance, there are 107 unique markings for sensitive information and more than 130 different procedures to protect them. Obama also asked for an across-the-government review whether procedures are balanced between transparency and national security.
