Nation of Secrets

Though this book was enjoyable, it was one of the toughest things I've read in quite some time...imagine reading a 300-page newspaper article. Its primary theme, though, is one to which we should all serve notice. Excessive secrecy - in government, business, etc.- will threaten our way of life here in America. From my career-based knowledge of the intelligence failures preceding 9/11 to some serious but ultimately trivial things that are happening in my extended family, covering up the truth brings heartache, creates an even greater web of lies to keep a secret suppressed, and so on. Needless to say, this book resonated with me.

Gup presents a number of examples of secrecy and information classification gone awry. What is most disturbing are those cases related to homeland security. What could be more important in a time when we send our sons and daughters abroad to fight a war to protect the very homeland that supports our way of life? I see this personally when I am forced to classify (albeit the “light” classification of FOUO) an after-action report of an emergency exercise. Does the public not have a right to know what strengths their emergency responders have? Does the public not have a right to know of their community's vulnerabilities so it can prepare itself?

In short, pick this book up to learn how you can open the doors of government, the press, big business, and so on. It is paramount. It is our responsibility as Americans. It is patriotic.

J.