Re: One Day at NARA

[<AMPSOne@aol.com>]

Are they truly classified or just stamped that way? Most of the 3AD ones I 
copied a couple of years ago were stamped RESTRICTED, CONFIDENTIAL or SECRET, 
but all of them received instant "downgrading" from the librarian at the 
desk. The only thing I had to do was ensure that the downgrading tag was on 
each Xeroxed copy (and yes, the guards down on the first floor looked at 
them).

There have been a lot of changes in classification over the years, but right 
now (after the Clinton Administration's push to downgrade everything, 
indirectly caused by the fact that many of their people would never have been 
cleared under standard rules and regulations) most things are UNCLAS. Even 
SIGINT -- which used to not even be whispered -- is mostly downgraded after 
20 years, less means and methods used for collection and processing. 

I agree with Ed -- one major glitch is getting someone to say it is no longer 
critical and release it. On the other hand, note that the Vauban models now 
on display at the Musee de l'Armee in Les Invalides in Paris were only 
declassified about 15 years ago -- after 300 years as "Most Secret!"

Cookie Sewell
AMPS