[Infowarrior] - New DoD Website Fosters Secret Scienc

[Richard Forno]

New DoD Website Fosters Secret Science [Oct. 8th, 2009|04:36 pm]
fassecrecynews
http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2009/10/secret_science.html

http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=2840

The Pentagon’s Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) last month  
announced the creation of a new password-protected portal where  
authorized users may gain access to restricted scientific and  
engineering publications.

“DTIC Online Access Controlled… provides a gateway to Department of  
Defense unclassified, controlled science and technology (S&T) and  
research and engineering (R&E) information,” according to a September  
21, 2009 news release (pdf).  “As defense S&T information advances, so  
does the unique community to which it belongs,” said DTIC  
Administrator R. Paul Ryan.

The cultivation of controlled but unclassified scientific research by  
DTIC seems to represent a departure from a longstanding U.S.  
government position that scientific research should either be  
classified, if necessary, or else unrestricted.  (There have always  
been exceptions for export controlled information and for proprietary  
information.)

“It is the policy of this Administration that, to the maximum extent  
possible, the products of fundamental research remain unrestricted,”  
wrote President Reagan in the 1985 National Security Decision  
Directive 189.  “It is also the policy of this Administration that,  
where the national security requires control, the mechanism for  
control of information… is classification.”

“The key to maintaining U.S. technological preeminence is to encourage  
open and collaborative basic research,” wrote then-National Security  
Advisor Condoleezza Rice in 2001.  “The linkage between the free  
exchange of ideas and scientific innovation, prosperity, and U.S.  
national security is undeniable.”

In response to a request 5 days ago, DTIC was not able to provide a  
comment on the matter.