Protection of classified information

The Director of the FBI gave a very lucid briefing on the results of the investigation into Hilary Clinton’s use of email.

For those of us who may have handled classified materials and diligently protected their security, he was right on in his evaluation. In addition, he was grilled for nearly five hours by a House emergency committee. He again looked precise, articulate, poised and stoic. His questioners were not, with a couple of exceptions.

Most of us with military or industrial experience underwent an exhaustive background investigation that is the basis for granting a clearance at some specified level. In politics, granting can be much more expedient. As a result, there are people who use classified material (in whatever medium) in a very disciplined manner and then there are the others who may treat classified material cavalierly. There is a range of the understanding of the classification system in between.

At the bottom of this ranking are our public servants and their staff people. Security of classified material can be a life or death matter. There are tiers of protection ranging from Confidential through Secret and Top Secret. A TS clearance is required for Secret Compartmented Information (SCI), a further breakout of the level of classification based on need to know for that compartment.

Markings compliant with very precise rules are required indicating classification level and the distribution may be specified. A user group may assign the classification level, again compliant with a set of national standards defining the importance of nondisclosure. There is a judgment factor here regarding level.

In the last decade, even unclassified material may be designated sensitive and a restricted distribution specified. All in all, the Director was right on in with his plea for everyone to get more familiar with the rules for handling of classified material, especially by electronic means.

What was displayed in the emergency committee meeting often bordered on the amateur hour and made some of us wince. John Watson