StudySpace: We the People ed. 6

Secrecy and Openness in the War on Terrorism

This exercise illustrates the reasoning behind government secrecy and the problems that may arise because of it. The first clip shows a congressional oversight hearing on the torture memos and the news article discusses the memos in more detail. Is there a balance between secrecy and Congressional oversight?

• Go to: http://www.pbs.org/now/thisweek/index_061104.html

Scroll down to the bottom of the page where it reads:

“David Brancaccio talks with Ron Daniels of the Center for Constitutional Rights (19:24)” and click on the “watch the video” link. Watch the first 8 minutes of the clip, through John Ashcroft’s testimony.

1. Watch the first seven minutes of the clip (through John Ashcroft’s testimony) and summarize Ashcroft’s perspective on keeping the administration memos on torture from Congress.
   
   

2. Do you think it’s appropriate for the President to keep so many documents secret even from Congress?
   
   

3. Read this article in the Christian Science Monitor:

   • http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0610/p01s02-usfp.html

   which discusses these memos. What is Congress’ role in making sure the executive branch carries out the laws passed by congress in a way that Congress intended?

   
   
   

4. Some of the administration memos argue that President Bush's role as commander-in-chief allowed him to order virtually any action he felt necessary to defend the nation. In a time of war, what are the benefits of this logic?
   
   

5. What are the benefits of Congressional oversight?
   
   

6. Do you think the framers of the Constitution would have wanted strong Congressional oversight?
   
   

7. Do you think that stronger Congressional oversight could have prevented the torture (or at least put an end to it earlier than was the case)?