Wyden Calls for Declassification of Bin Laden Documents Since 1998
Senator says declassifying in "dribs and drabs" reveals too little about Bush, Clinton administrations' responses to al Qaeda threat
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) this week called for the declassification of "all documents distributed to or created by officials of both the current and former [presidential] administrations regarding the threat posed by Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda organization, and the way in which policymakers perceived, considered, planned and responded to this threat, dating back to the August 1998 bombings of the United States Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania." In a letter to the president requesting the declassifications Wyden, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, cited growing concern that declassifying documents selectively and one by one might provide a politicized or incomplete view of administrations' knowledge of and response to the threat posed by al Qaeda prior to September 11, 2001. "I think it's time, for the sake of the American people, to get all of this out in the open," said Wyden. "The alternative seems to be the release of dribs and drabs of information that won't shed sufficient light on the history of this threat and our leaders' response to illuminate it fully or to help America prevent another tragedy." Wyden's request to the president calls for redactions in the declassified documents to protect national security. The text of his letter follows. ******************************************************** The Honorable George W. Bush President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. Dear Mr. President: I am writing to request the timely declassification of all documents distributed to or created by officials of both the current and former Administrations regarding the threat posed by Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda organization, and the way in which policymakers perceived, considered, planned and responded to this threat, dating back to the August 1998 bombings of the United States Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. These documents should include all distributed intelligence reporting and analyses, as well as e-mail, memoranda, minutes of deputies' and principals' meetings and other written documents and communications, with redactions consistent with the protection of intelligence sources and methods to protect national security. I believe that the declassification of these materials can be accomplished to ensure that no cooperating foreign intelligence service or asset working with the U.S. is harmed by this release. As a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I believe the timely declassification of this material is necessary for a full public understanding and discussion of the intelligence information available to policymakers. The American people deserve to understand the factors involved in responding to the threat posed by Osama bin Laden as well as implications of the policy options available to and chosen by decision makers. I believe that the declassification can be accomplished within 60 days but understand the complexity and enormity of the task may require a request for additional time for certain materials. Otherwise, under current executive orders on classification, the American public will have to wait 25 years before this information is even considered for declassification, and even then this material might not be released. I believe that in order to win the war against al Qaeda the American public, as well as government officials, need to understand the full history of this dreadful threat and our leaders' response to it. An informed public will be a full partner in the continuing effort to see that justice is done in response to September 11, and to protect our citizens from future attacks. Sincerely, Ron Wyden United States Senator
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