Defining Security: A Matter of Trust

Since each and every American can’t vote on each and every bill, we elect someone to do it for us: we entrust someone with the job.

With important and sensitive issues like intelligence and security, we trust our representatives to define security carefully and then spend our tax dollars wisely to get it.

Yes, yes, we are saying trust and politicians in the same breath. Ever since the Nixon scandal, Americans have had serious trouble trusting their leaders –many would say with good reason-- but some amount of trust is essential for the democratic process to work.

Especially because you don’t get to know where all of your tax dollars go. While most expenditures are a matter of public record, some costs, like funds appropriated to intelligence gathering, are largely classified.

It makes sense, when you think about it. If the public knew about every dollar for every spy program, we’d, well, know about every spy program, and so would everyone else, making it kind of hard for spies to spy.

But on the other hand, how are we supposed to tell our representatives what we are or are not willing to pay for if intelligence spending is under wraps?

Plus, security is not always just a matter of secrets and spies.

Defining Security

Although the words “national security” conjure up images of symbolic destruction worthy of being played again and again on the evening news, many women conceptualize security and terror differently – in terms of tangible and everyday dangers to themselves and their families.

In this sense, the concept of security encompasses not only large scale disasters, like all those hurricanes (and they’ve shown all too clearly they can be natural as well as planned disasters), but also the more routine threats of losing a job, or health care, global warming, or the rising price of gas. For more on defining security, click here.

On May 11, 2007, the House of Representatives passed a fiscal 2008 intelligence authorization bill 225-197.

Although most of the bill is classified, even those of us without super-security clearance can debate four important sticking points:

• The bill calls for a thorough report on the security ramifications of climate change. Some Republicans wanted to remove this requirement, arguing that Congress already has a special committee assigned to global warming. Peter Hoekstra (R-Michigan) says that the report would take time and resources away from other threats, and that the intelligence community has nothing special to add to the discussion.

Democrats disagreed, arguing that it is essential to study climate change from a security perspective.

They focus on the security questions arising from Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters.

• The House bill requires quarterly reports from the Bush Administration on the nuclear programs of Iran and North Korea.

• It also increases Congress’ oversight of the CIA. It requires an audit of CIA covert actions every three years. In its report, The House Intelligence Committee complained of the CIA’s failure to inform them of covert operations.

• Further, the president will need to testify before Congress as to whether covert agents need more legal protections. This requirement was inspired by the Valerie Plame case, in which Plame’s classified covert CIA identity was leaked in a syndicated American newspaper column.

What do you think?

Some Senators think more of this bill should be declassified so that Congress’ intelligence spending is more transparent. Do you agree? Should the CIA be required to report on global warming? Should Congress audit CIA covert operations more often? Should covert agents get more protection? The Senate has yet to pass the bill, and will be debating these issues. It’s not too late to let your representatives know what you think!

About WomenMatter

WomenMatter is a place to discuss life issues with other women. We don't want to wedge women apart, but rather bring them together to dialogue.

WomenMatter is the place where we can take one issue at a time, match what we do about it every day of our lives to the facts of the bigger system that we all live in and recognize that every idea for making it better has tradeoffs.

WomenMatter is dedicated to engaging women in the political process. To do this we have invested in the most in-depth NONPARTISAN information, because we trust each woman to make up her own mind.

• We track nine issues every week and update this website several times a week.
• We do continuous research to make sure that we are meeting the needs of women across the country of all ages, races, incomes, preferences, and religions.
• To explore our archive of past Security Life Issue updates, click here.