Comments on: Secrecy News Purged from State Dept History Mailing List

By: After Report, Secrecy News Dropped from State Department Mailing List « AALL’s Washington Blawg

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:24:57 +0000

[...] efforts to reduce the scope of governmental secrecy. So it is with great concern that we read Aftergood’s announcement that Secrecy News was removed from the distribution list for the U.S. State Department history [...]

By: Vectorpedia (Rick)

Vectorpedia (Rick) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:49:59 +0000

Its a shame they took you off the list……..I hope someone in the State Department looks into this matter and corrects the problem.

By: C.Whelchel

C.Whelchel — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 04:57:35 +0000

re: Dale Copps comment

I am in a “suthern” state and my congressional delegation (GA) consists of a vast number of republican party members. I could try to inform them, and I know that my state’s democrat members are discussing other issues yet would hopefully “discuss” this matter with members across the isle. I know it doesn’t necessarily boil down to a republican vs democrat fight it mainly goes to the issue of what is most important to economic factors, etc. etc. etc.

re: Steven Aftergood

Once again your help on this matter (via website texts) is another invaluable service to FAS. Thank you.

By: Dale Copps

Dale Copps — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:37:42 +0000

It’s still inexcusable. I have written my congressional delegation (VT) and asked them all to look into this matter and get you back on the list.

By: Steven Aftergood

Steven Aftergood — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:16:25 +0000

Thanks for the thought. The "mailing list" is not something one can sign up for. It is a list maintained by the Historians Office for members of the press and librarians to receive a hard copy of the FRUS volumes. Removal from the list, while annoying and possibly offensive, is not a tremendous hardship since the text of the FRUS volumes can be found on the State Department web site here.

By: Dale Copps

Dale Copps — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:07:55 +0000

I went on the FRUS site and tried to find a way to sign up for the mailing list, and could not. Can you direct us to that resource? Additionally, I will forward this shameful situation to my congressional delegation and see if they can do anything about it.

You have an admirable corps of followers who are in a position to delve into these documents and unearth their inaccuracies. It would be great if we could coordinate these efforts more widely and engage even more people in the effort. I.F. Stone used to do it all by himself; these days, with the amount of materials emanating from government, NGOs, and other sources, that is impossible.

By: C.Whelchel

C.Whelchel — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 05:03:38 +0000

It’s a shame when being helpful is considered something more than the intention — no matter what. In a world where up is down, down is up, and nothing is as it should be, the only way for some people to try to gain perspective and information is here. The FAS has been non-judgemental in it’s efforts to open the eyes of the people who actually care about the history and the present historical significance of documentation. It seems ludicrous for the removal of anything so innocuous as the mailing list being purged … Isn’t it strange to concerned citizens (who do not depend on the mainstream media) to try to be informed _correctly_ without being penalized. I certainly agree with B. Adjemian states — they should thank you–at least for reducing their paperwork overflow!

By: Bob Adjemian

Bob Adjemian — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:43:24 +0000

They took you off the list for the correction? They should thank you for the correction. Looks to me like it was only an excuse to get you off the list. Hope you have alternate ways to get the info!