That is why classified systems exist, they act as a last ditch mechanism to ensure that the ruling class isn't inconvenienced by silly things like "the law". How many people have been locked up for lying to Congress about their illegal activities at the NSA? What about the people at the FBI who knowingly misrepresented evidence while renewing secret FISA court surveillance orders? You remember the so called "Satanic Panic" in the late 80's? Did you know that documents were declassified last year proving that it wasn't a silly conservative overreaction to Iron Maiden, but something that was actually happening - and the CIA was (for whatever reason) coordinating the media's handling of events? Do you think the law hindered those government employees assisting in the trafficking of those children, or saw to their punishment? Nope.
> You remember the so called "Satanic Panic" in the late 80's? Did you know that documents were declassified last year proving that it wasn't a silly conservative overreaction to Iron Maiden, but something that was actually happening
These are the keywords you are interested in: The Finders, FBI, CIA memo to NBC, North Korea visa. It has been my experience that the more effort one puts into sharing something like this with a stranger on the internet - the more easily it is dismissed. You've got a few hundred pages of declassified documents waiting for you, do the work or don't - it really depends on the sincerity of your "citation needed".
I honestly have no idea how truthful any of this is. If experience has taught me anything, it's that conspiracy theories like this are largely bullshit. Thank you for at least providing me somewhere to start though.
huh, you'd think that the last few years would have sufficiently chastened the kind of people who reflexively characterize things as "conspiracy theories"... :)
Why it was created? I don't think anyone could offer more than guess. Why it is maintained? lol. First, we could get a lot more specific about the kinds of classification and the distinguishing characteristics... but I think we can get away with this: broadly speaking there are two kinds - tactical and strategic. Tactical is almost always SECRET (sometimes with a further qualifier like NOFOR) and below. This is stuff that is very time sensitive. For example: Manning's SIPRNET data dump. It makes sense to protect this information for a short period of time, no more than 2 years - as declassification would only skyline bad actors. Strategic (everything above SECRET) is where are all the highly illegal stuff that would cause a massive amount of backlash is hidden. For example: all of the Snowden/Greenwald releases. Sure, there are some long running strategic programs that could be argued needs protection... but to a degree that justifies the entire security apparatus? No, that is the whole reason why nukes are suited to their purpose - the barrier to entry is far higher than getting your hands on some schematics.
Clandestine sources always pale in comparison to open source collection, when the objective is the truth - not some concealed agenda. So, the idea that the status quo is maintained for any other reason than concealing bad behavior is laughable - we know that it doesn't do what it purports to do.
