Comments on: State Dept: Crisis in the “Foreign Relations” Series http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2008/12/crisis_in_frus.html Secrecy News from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:03:51 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: phitnessphreak http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2008/12/crisis_in_frus.html/comment-page-1#comment-3153 phitnessphreak Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:41:22 +0000 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=2135#comment-3153 Dr. Susser's determination to produce a "complete" record shows an understanding of and adherence to best practices for archival electronic records management. He is to be commended for steadfastly insisting on addressing 1) content, 2) structure, and 3) context. His efforts and vision with respect to the FRUs aim at providing citizens not only a trustworthy but also "accessible" electronic record, as a review of the recently-published FRUs on the Department of State website will aptly demonstrate. I took the time to review Mr. Louis' letter and analysis. I also took the time to review the minutes of the December 2008 meeting. My take-away is that the nature of the disagreement concerns understanding modern (read electronic) archival science, certain individuals' dissatisfaction with the changing role and responsibilities of archivists, and perhaps also resistance to change. I find it commendable that Dr. Susser brings to his position an appreciation beyond the letter of the law. An expert witness with knowledge of the field will, I think, agree that "thorough" means "complete" with respect to electronic records(cf "Authentic Electronic Records: Strategies for Long-Term Access" by Dr. Charles M. Dollar published by Cohasset Associates 1999). Perhaps some may object to Dr. Susser's use of metaphors (in particular, the heart-cutting metaphor) for communicating his steadfastness, but, again, without the context of the "complete record," we cannot judge. We must remember that change challenges our mindets, perceptions, habits, and sometimes ven self-identity. I view Dr. Susser's efforts at change commendable after my review of the record and evidence. Furthermore, Dr. Susser has addressed the matter in public with "British" manners, as did President Obama during the presidential campaign -- he has not dignified the accusations with a response. Best Regards To All! Dr. Susser’s determination to produce a “complete” record shows an understanding of and adherence to best practices for archival electronic records management. He is to be commended for steadfastly insisting on addressing 1) content, 2) structure, and 3) context. His efforts and vision with respect to the FRUs aim at providing citizens not only a trustworthy but also “accessible” electronic record, as a review of the recently-published FRUs on the Department of State website will aptly demonstrate.

I took the time to review Mr. Louis’ letter and analysis. I also took the time to review the minutes of the December 2008 meeting. My take-away is that the nature of the disagreement concerns understanding modern (read electronic) archival science, certain individuals’ dissatisfaction with the changing role and responsibilities of archivists, and perhaps also resistance to change. I find it commendable that Dr. Susser brings to his position an appreciation beyond the letter of the law. An expert witness with knowledge of the field will, I think, agree that “thorough” means “complete” with respect to electronic records(cf “Authentic Electronic Records: Strategies for Long-Term Access” by Dr. Charles M. Dollar published by Cohasset Associates 1999).

Perhaps some may object to Dr. Susser’s use of metaphors (in particular, the heart-cutting metaphor) for communicating his steadfastness, but, again, without the context of the “complete record,” we cannot judge. We must remember that change challenges our mindets, perceptions, habits, and sometimes ven self-identity. I view Dr. Susser’s efforts at change commendable after my review of the record and evidence. Furthermore, Dr. Susser has addressed the matter in public with “British” manners, as did President Obama during the presidential campaign — he has not dignified the accusations with a response.

Best Regards To All!

]]> By: diplo65 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2008/12/crisis_in_frus.html/comment-page-1#comment-3033 diplo65 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 02:54:27 +0000 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=2135#comment-3033 As someone who actually worked in this office and knows some of the personalities involved, what Sean McCormack labels innuendo is fact. What is alleged to have happened actually happened. As someone who actually worked in this office and knows some of the personalities involved, what Sean McCormack labels innuendo is fact. What is alleged to have happened actually happened.

]]> By: Imbroglio http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2008/12/crisis_in_frus.html/comment-page-1#comment-2678 Imbroglio Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:34:16 +0000 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=2135#comment-2678 A Tempest in a teapot inflamed by alleged professionals that ought to know better than to use people to grind their own personal axes. What a shame. A Tempest in a teapot inflamed by alleged professionals that ought to know better than to use people to grind their own personal axes.

What a shame.

]]> By: FOIA http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2008/12/crisis_in_frus.html/comment-page-1#comment-2417 FOIA Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:18:45 +0000 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=2135#comment-2417 The New Yorker has published some additional insights into the Historian's Office: http://www.newyorker.com/talk/2009/01/12/090112ta_talk_vogt. The New Yorker has published some additional insights into the Historian’s Office: http://www.newyorker.com/talk/2009/01/12/090112ta_talk_vogt.

]]> By: old.frt http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2008/12/crisis_in_frus.html/comment-page-1#comment-2404 old.frt Wed, 31 Dec 2008 03:14:21 +0000 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=2135#comment-2404 Well, the truthiness of the matter will rise. HST* put it succinctly years ago: "The scum also rises." ______ *Not Harry S Truman, but Hunter S. Thompson Well, the truthiness of the matter will rise.
HST* put it succinctly years ago: “The scum also rises.”

______
*Not Harry S Truman, but Hunter S. Thompson

]]> By: insider http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2008/12/crisis_in_frus.html/comment-page-1#comment-2358 insider Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:18:29 +0000 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=2135#comment-2358 I have worked in the State bureaucracy for almost 4 decades and know more than a few of the people involved in this sordid and unfortunate tale. What is happening in the Historian's office is not unheard of in any large organization -- to wit, an individual who clearly is beset by psychological difficulties assumes a position of office leadership and wreaks havoc by engaging in behavior which, while certainly inherent in the genetic makeup of our august species, most of us outgrow, learn to control, or control with psychotherapy and/or medications prescribed for same. The people who populate the office are, like myself and scores of others I know, civil servants who are hired to do a job and do it well because we are intelligent, skilled, and motivated. The breakdown in the office in question is not unique by any stretch of the imagination and would not be worthy of note were it not for the fact that the office fulfills a Congressionally-mandated mission that is of the utmost importance and maintains a level of close contact with experts in academia. This is a serious matter and it is important that action be taken by the Secretary -- or by someone in a position of authority on the Hill -- to remedy the situation. Meantime, State's office of medical services provides counseling for anyone in the office (or elsewhere in the department) who needs it. I have worked in the State bureaucracy for almost 4 decades and know more than a few of the people involved in this sordid and unfortunate tale. What is happening in the Historian’s office is not unheard of in any large organization — to wit, an individual who clearly is beset by psychological difficulties assumes a position of office leadership and wreaks havoc by engaging in behavior which, while certainly inherent in the genetic makeup of our august species, most of us outgrow, learn to control, or control with psychotherapy and/or medications prescribed for same. The people who populate the office are, like myself and scores of others I know, civil servants who are hired to do a job and do it well because we are intelligent, skilled, and motivated. The breakdown in the office in question is not unique by any stretch of the imagination and would not be worthy of note were it not for the fact that the office fulfills a Congressionally-mandated mission that is of the utmost importance and maintains a level of close contact with experts in academia.

This is a serious matter and it is important that action be taken by the Secretary — or by someone in a position of authority on the Hill — to remedy the situation. Meantime, State’s office of medical services provides counseling for anyone in the office (or elsewhere in the department) who needs it.

]]> By: FOIA http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2008/12/crisis_in_frus.html/comment-page-1#comment-2357 FOIA Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:42:33 +0000 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=2135#comment-2357 Because the people running the office are Civil Service appointees who came into office after being selected in the Clinton Administration. They are not political appointees. Sean McCormack is the one exception, but the Historian's Office is not normally at the center of his attention. The only person who will rotate out in the new administration is McCormack. Because the people running the office are Civil Service appointees who came into office after being selected in the Clinton Administration. They are not political appointees.

Sean McCormack is the one exception, but the Historian’s Office is not normally at the center of his attention.

The only person who will rotate out in the new administration is McCormack.

]]> By: jhm http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2008/12/crisis_in_frus.html/comment-page-1#comment-2356 jhm Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:04:49 +0000 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=2135#comment-2356 How, precisely, is this any different than any other office in this administration*? How, precisely, is this any different than any other office in this administration*?

]]> By: Bear1983 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2008/12/crisis_in_frus.html/comment-page-1#comment-2355 Bear1983 Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:30:20 +0000 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=2135#comment-2355 It is well-known in the field that the State Department Historian's Office is a sinkhole of manipulative managerial nonsense where slavish loyalty is rewarded and merit wholly irrelevant. I'm stunned that Department representatives would choose to protecting an incompetent martinet rather than listen to the considered judgment of leading historians in the field who have had the opportunity to watch and judge Dr. Susser's performance for some time. I suppose it would be too much to expect better from appointed officials too concerned about bad publicity to do the right thing. It is well-known in the field that the State Department Historian’s Office is a sinkhole of manipulative managerial nonsense where slavish loyalty is rewarded and merit wholly irrelevant. I’m stunned that Department representatives would choose to protecting an incompetent martinet rather than listen to the considered judgment of leading historians in the field who have had the opportunity to watch and judge Dr. Susser’s performance for some time. I suppose it would be too much to expect better from appointed officials too concerned about bad publicity to do the right thing.

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