At a recent event,
an associate of mine raised the question of a ‘classified information release’
review of The Defect. I have had a security clearance for most of my life. The
federal government issued my first clearance to me when I was 19, in support of
my work on the Army Nuclear Weapons Program. I’ve had a clearance issued for
virtually my entire working career (save the year that I was a real estate
agent earning money to return to school.) As such, even though I’m retired, I
have certain responsibilities for the safeguarding of the classified
information that was part of my assignments.
I talked to a Classification
and Intellectual Properties attorney from the national laboratory where I
worked for seventeen years. All of my most recent classified work was for the
laboratory. I received some surprising answers and a wealth of supporting
information during the interview.
First, let me say
that I was extremely well received. The classification review attorney took my
inquiry seriously. Even though the meeting was formal, the attorney that I
talked to was courteous to the point of friendly. He even made several
suggestions for future reviews.
Now, as to the
results of the interview, I’m limited in what I can say. I can say is that
there was an interview. As part of classified information protection
protocols, I was cautioned not to pass on what we talked about, what decisions
were made (if any), or what actions I must take (if any.) Anything that I write
might be coupled with other information to imply a classified detail.
If I suggest that
he liked The Defect, it would suggest that he did conduct the review. If I
suggest that the attorney expressed a desire to read The Defect when it comes out,
that would imply that he did not read the book as part of a classified
materials review. All I can state as fact is that I inquired about my
obligations in the matter and that the attorney and I are satisfied with the
results.
Even information
that is no longer classified is closely protected. If the government releases a
fact that is no longer classified, the knowledge of what was once classified
may lead to someone imply what is now classified. The attorney used the example:
we know that the American’s had flintlock muskets at the start of the American
Revolution. An enemy sympathizer could overhear the soldiers complaining about
extra rifle training. He could couple this fact with a newspaper article noticing
that the government market for musket balls was waning. Together, the seemingly
unrelated facts might lead to the conclusion that the Americans had probably developed
a better weapon. I can’t say that I removed classified information from the
book or that I am releasing the book with some seemingly harmless declassified
information included.
I approach this
sensitive, but complex, subject in my current project, Wine Country. One
of the investigators asks one of the antagonist if he recognizes the person
shown in a picture. The antagonists doesn’t respond in any way (smart). He
realizes that he is setting a precedent if he denies knowing the person
in this picture and is willing to deny knowing the person. If he doesn’t
commit on the person in the next picture, then his actions imply that he does
know the second person (because he didn’t deny it.) Better to say nothing. The
smallest piece of information can and will be used with other information to
form a complete picture.
I did request a
'classified information release' review for The Defect. The classification
review attorney and I are satisfied with the results of the interview. Deer Hawk Publications will release my book, The Defect, on schedule at the
end of May 2016.
Welcome to my world
