Kudos for getting your props! And we read it here first, too cool.
Posted by phidipides at February 25, 2006 09:19 AMWow. The mysteries keep mounting. Excellent, excellent work, eR. I sure would like to see what was in that "funky" document that has yet to be revealed.
Posted by Mary at February 25, 2006 10:17 AMI'll second Phi's kudos. Glad to see journalists picking up your work.
Posted by emptywheel at February 25, 2006 12:33 PMeR,
Here's a little more information on the INR memo if you're interested. See how the memo's redactions have either B1 or B3 handwritten in margin alongside? That's because the law governing classification requires that declassified documents provide a reason if they still contain classified sections. The handwritten note at the top of the INR document, "B1 1.4 (c)(d)", refers to section 1.4 of Executive Order 13292, paragraphs (c) and (d).
The reasons for classification given by those paragraphs are:
(c) intelligence activities (including special activities), intelligence sources or methods, or cryptology;
(d) foreign relations or foreign activities of the United States, including confidential sources;
Since the "two phases" redaction is marked B1 in the INR memo, my guess is that the reason it's classified is to conceal the report's source, i.e. the Niger docs.
Posted by FMJ at February 25, 2006 01:52 PMBTW, I haven't been able to find out what "B3 (C/A)" means yet. All I know is that it refers to a very high level of classification. It has to be stored in an uber-secure computer.
Oh, and congrats on the recognition. You deserve it. :)
Posted by FMJ at February 25, 2006 01:58 PMeR, piling on with the pats on the back for the recognition.
FMJ, thanks for that info and I'm quipping "B3 (C/A)" means something like "classified by the Cheney Administration" or "classified by Cheney sourced to Chalabi/Ahmed". okay I'm kidding but thanks for "learning" me something knew everyday.
Posted by emal at February 25, 2006 02:08 PMSpoke too soon. There's a list of exemption codes here. B3 redactions are classified under "other statutes", i.e. not executive orders. The code C/A refers to the specific statute that covers the B3 redactions in the INR memo, the CIA Act of 1949 50 USC 403.
Posted by FMJ at February 25, 2006 02:43 PMThanks all...
FMJ thanks in particular for checking on the codes...
Posted by eriposte at February 25, 2006 11:46 PMeR,
No problem. The CIA Act of 1949 "exempts from release certain enumerated categories of information including CIA's organization, functions, names, official titles, salaries and/or number of personnel employed by the CIA."
So, any redaction marked B3 in the INR memo was most likely something with which you could identify an intelligence operative. Someone "Valerie Plame-esque", I suppose. Sorry emal, not "Chalabi/Ahmed". :)