Comments on: Intelligence Fusion Centers Emerge Across the U.S. http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2006/04/intelligence_fusion_centers_em.html Secrecy News from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:31:30 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Allen Thomson http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2006/04/intelligence_fusion_centers_em.html/comment-page-1#comment-549 Allen Thomson Thu, 27 Apr 2006 01:36:33 +0000 http://fasweb.beacontec.com/blog/secrecy/2006/04/intelligence_fusion_centers_emerge_across_the_us.html#comment-549 It's hard to know how this will come out, though history doesn't encourage much optimism. Of secrecy relevance, I think a sign of progress would be to establish a common access level and list -- maybe Confidential -- for everybody, everywhere in DHS and related agencies with no questions asked about sharing information with anybody on the list. Failing to share information should be the default sin, rather than the opposite. Also, organizations producing information at higher classifications should be obliged to push as much down to the common level as soon as possible. I've taken part in several such exercises while in the government, and can testify that it generally isn't all that hard to capture the essence of Top Secret RUFF ZARF UMBRA GAMMA ETC. documents in material meant to be shared with those holding lower clearances. Similarly, there should be single-point-of-contact authorities in the centers who could authorize release of Confidential information to whomever seemed appropriate: small-town cops, hospitals, fire-fighters or even (gasp!) the press. Maybe there could be a similar DHS official in Washington who could unilaterally and immediately declassify any relevant information. It’s hard to know how this will come out, though history doesn’t encourage much optimism.

Of secrecy relevance, I think a sign of progress would be to establish a common access level and list — maybe Confidential — for everybody, everywhere in DHS and related agencies with no questions asked about sharing information with anybody on the list. Failing to share information should be the default sin, rather than the opposite.

Also, organizations producing information at higher classifications should be obliged to push as much down to the common level as soon as possible. I’ve taken part in several such exercises while in the government, and can testify that it generally isn’t all that hard to capture the essence of Top Secret RUFF ZARF UMBRA GAMMA ETC. documents in material meant to be shared with those holding lower clearances.

Similarly, there should be single-point-of-contact authorities in the centers who could authorize release of Confidential information to whomever seemed appropriate: small-town cops, hospitals, fire-fighters or even (gasp!) the press. Maybe there could be a similar DHS official in Washington who could unilaterally and immediately declassify any relevant information.

]]> By: Rus http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2006/04/intelligence_fusion_centers_em.html/comment-page-1#comment-548 Rus Wed, 26 Apr 2006 04:13:18 +0000 http://fasweb.beacontec.com/blog/secrecy/2006/04/intelligence_fusion_centers_emerge_across_the_us.html#comment-548 Is this a tipping point for something important--or just fertile ground for one? Is this a tipping point for something important–or just fertile ground for one?

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