...so that enemies of the state can divulge information to terroists and our enemies.

Ashcroft knows that FOIA goes against many other laws constantly used by the intelligence and law enforcement community. One of which emphasizes the ability to classify information as secret or higher based upon the presumption it will merit such classification after proper review. In other words I can treat information as classified and not release it under FOIA based upon my sound judgment, until proper departmental review.

Tom for example could classify part of the project he's working on for DARPA, and pending review, that classification would hold. So in other words Tom could say "propulsion widget A" is Top Secret, and would remain so until reviewed by the proper classification authorities.

The Justice Department has the same perogative.

This, by the way, is a Presidential Executive order regarding classification of information and has existed in one form or another since Truman.

If Reno wanted to assume all information was public - that was her silly leftist view. The truth of the matter is the right to know is subserviant to the needs of national security.

That article is just so much more leftist uninformed tripe, written for an uninformed leftist crowd who await with baited breath Ashcrofts' "agenda".

SDAI-Tech1