It is true that secrecy is a form of regulation, and the American citizen labors under far too many burdensome regulations as it is. But we have to draw a proper distinction between regulation that is necessary and serves an agreed-upon purpose, one connected with the legitimate and necessary function of government, and regulation which is not necessary. Good judgment is the only arbiter, and that judgment has to be informed by an understanding of history, and of the first principles which undergird this nation, especially those embodied in the Constitution. The zeal to open up the process and to declassify information flows in part from a commendable desire among the American people to restore confidence in their government. However, compromising sensitive information through excessive haste to declassify and release will engender a loss of confidence of a different kind.
American citizens have a great deal of common sense.
They do not want their government withholding information they need to make an informed decision about national policy. But neither do they want their government revealing things that ought to be concealed. They accept the proposition that some things must be kept hidden. They are perfectly capable of understanding that a violent shaking of the security and classification system could compromise vital information and capabilities, and make it harder for the United States to collect information in the future. Informants and allies abroad would be much more reluctant to confide in U.S. intelligence or government officials for fear of being compromised in a rush to declassify.