It’s just common sense
Over the holiday break, President Bush made an unannounced visit
to the troops in Iraq. During this visit, President Bush proved to
the 600 soldiers that he, as well as the entire nation, greatly
appreciates the bravery and effort set forth by these troops. While
this seems like a commendable action for a president, Bush is
getting severe criticism for his secret appearance in Iraq.
Those in opposition to the president’s move claim that the
secrecy involved in this unexpected trip only emphasizes the
instability in Iraq, apparently proving that the country is
deteriorating at a rapid pace. Due to the fact that many in the
country are all too quick to criticize any action taken by
President Bush, the important point of security for both the
president and the nation have been neglected. While it is important
for the government to communicate with the public it has been
elected to represent, it is not necessary for the government to
provide information about all its happenings.
In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, people not content
with the information provided on the multiple news stations were
calling for more complete information from the government. They
immediately wanted to know who it was and what the government was
going to do about the situation. Information could not come fast
enough to satiate these individuals’ appetites, and so they began
to grow skeptical of the government. Apparently a lack of
information must mean that the government is attempting to cover up
and hide things from the public. For many, this was just the start
(or a just the continuation of) a corrupt, secretive government
that could not be trusted. The lack of information provided by the
government is at times necessary, and Sept.11, 2001, was just one
example of those times.
By now, many of you are getting angry, planning out your next
letter to the editor. But before I get angry e-mails, let me
explain the position that the government should not tell the public
everything. First and foremost, the government must keep
information under wraps for our own safety. If the government
disclosed all information about things like the president’s trip to
Iraq, it would let terrorists know that our president is in close
proximity to them, perhaps inviting an attack. Any information that
is available to the U.S. public is available to terrorists. Also,
information about the troop locations or attack plans should
obviously be kept secret in order to keep soldiers safe and the
attack a surprise. There should be no argument against that last
point. It only makes perfect sense. The nation’s security is in the
government’s hands, and to disclose information that could in any
way jeopardize that would be asinine.
Also, divulging all information to the American public could
only invite chaos. If the news stations had broadcasted information
about terrorists’ whereabouts, troop whereabouts or attack plans
after the terrorist attacks, the nation would have erupted into a
chaotic state. The government will tell the public the information
that is necessary to keep them safe. However, anything beyond that
is too much information. With too much information given, many in
the country could decide to take things into their own hands,
rioting would occur and government leadership would be completely
disregarded.
I am not saying that the government should keep absolutely
everything concealed, however. There is information that should be
conveyed to the public. The government consists, after all, of
representatives who we elect. However, they do have the power and
the knowledge to make certain decisions in our best interest, and
we have to trust that they are doing so or run the risk of
important information getting into the wrong hands.
President Bush’s surprise visit in Iraq was not an attempt to
prove the unstable conditions in Iraq. It is a known fact that all
of the Middle East is unstable. The secrecy of his visit was to
protect the president, his traveling crew, our troops and
ourselves. The government knows what to tell the public and when to
tell it, so do not put everyone in jeopardy by requesting
information that puts us all in danger. It’s just common sense.
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