Steven Aftergood, Secrecy News, 22 January 2009
Inevitably, several caveats are in order. A “presumption of disclosure” really only applies to records that are potentially subject to discretionary release, which is a finite subset of secret government information. Vast realms of information are sequestered behind classification barriers or statutory protections that remain unaffected by the new policy statements. “In the face of doubt, openness prevails,” the President said. But throughout the government secrecy system, there is not a lot of doubt or soul-searching about the application of secrecy.