# Should the 27 Intelligence Report pages be declassified? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 2, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-27-intelligence-report-pages-be-declassified/192564 "2003-08-02T16:59:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-27-intelligence-report-pages-be-declassified/192564/21 "2003-08-03T19:49:39Z")
**ElvisL1ves:** No, I’m not content to not know. It bothers me a lot. I’ve been complaining about the Saudis since 9/11. My suspicion is that this stuff is being classified for some bullshit reason such as the State Department deciding that it’s better to keep some damning information private so they can continue to pressure the Saudis and hang it over their heads and get cooperation, rather than make it public and have the American people demand some sort of retribution, or at least get on the Administration’s case over coddling the Saudis. My suspicion is that the big brains in government have decided that it’s all just too complex for the American people to understand. And that’s crap. So if you want to demand that this stuff be released, I’ll fully understand, and I’m leaning towards supporting that position. The reason I don’t offer full, unqualified support is because demanding that classified information be released when you don’t know what’s in it IS dangerous. Sometimes people’s lives are at stake. So you have to tread carefully. I think a good compromise would be to establish a commission of people cleared for such intelligence, have them examine it, and issue a ruling. It should be a bipartisan commission, comprised equally of Democrats and Republicans. They would decide how much of the information should be released, and that decision would be binding. Would that satisfy you? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-27-intelligence-report-pages-be-declassified/192564/22 "2003-08-03T20:01:59Z")
Short of Cheney’s head on a pike, and Rummy clapped in irons? Yes, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-27-intelligence-report-pages-be-declassified/192564/23 "2003-08-03T20:02:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Leaper \* > Perhaps **rjung** or someone else could find the original “cite” for his recollection…? Well, here’s something along the same lines. > [@](#): > > [**9/11 report suggests Saudi spies had a role**](http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0802terror02.html) > On Friday, 46 Democratic senators asked Bush to release the deleted material, asserting that the national security issues raised by Bush could be addressed by careful editing of sensitive passages. Republicans, including Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., former chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, have also called for its release. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Sam Stone_ > I know you guys want to keep pigeonholing me as being a Bush apologist, but it just isn’t the case. We’d like to believe you, **Sam,** but actions speak louder than words… ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-27-intelligence-report-pages-be-declassified/192564/24 "2003-08-03T20:15:32Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\* > The reason I don’t offer full, unqualified support is because demanding that classified information be released when you don’t know what’s in it IS dangerous. Sometimes people’s lives are at stake._\* Gee, the ins and out of intelligence data haven’t been released and peoples’ lives are already at stake. > [@](#): > > \*\* … you have to tread carefully. > \*\* You’re preaching to the choir. Why don’t you tell that to GW, Rummy, The Wolf and Perle? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-27-intelligence-report-pages-be-declassified/192564.md?page=1)