National Security Elites and the Era of Secrecy

May 28, 2015

Lords of Secrecy: The National Security Elite and America’s Stealth Warfare (May 21, 2015)

Executive decisions about war and peace are increasingly made by autonomous, self-directed, and unaccountable national security elites. Secrecy is justified as part of a bargain under which the state promises to keep the people safe from its enemies, but in fact allows excesses, mistakes, and crimes to go unchecked.

Bureaucracies use secrets to conceal their mistakes and advance their power in government, invariably at the expense of the rights of the people. Never before have the American people had so little information concerning the wars waged in their name, nor has Congress exercised so little oversight over the war effort.

Journalist and human rights lawyer Scott Horton recently took part in a conversation about his new book, Lords of Secrecy, which explores how secrecy has changed the way America functions. Listen above.

Topics

National Security and Counterterrorism, Freedom of Information

National Security and Human Rights

Rebuilding and Resilience: 20 Years Since 9/11

A woman standing at the September 11 memorial

On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Open Society shares reflections from partners on the road traveled since—and the hard work still ahead.

September 10, 2021 | Laleh Ispahani

Voices

No State Accountability for North Carolina Contractor Who Helped CIA Torture

While far too much of the CIA’s activities during the presidency of George W. Bush remains hidden from the public, a new report helps to fill the gap by taking a closer look at North Carolina’s involvement.

December 13, 2018 | Catherine Read

Event Recap

The History of American Islamophobia, from the 19th Century to the Trump Era

Khaled A. Beydoun’s new book charts Islamophobia in the United States and the ways anti-Muslim rhetoric is rooted in the country’s legal system.

October 31, 2018

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