Hide the Problems, Fix Them Quietly

In the wake of new allegations regarding the Secret Service, a security force that protects the president, a greater issue, concerning government releases of potentially dangerous information, is emerging. Because of whistle-blowers and watchdog government groups, and investigative reporting, much of the edge that the Secret Service and other government agencies have on criminals has diminished or disappeared. Criminals now have access to all of the documents detailing the Secret Service member's locations, weapons, strategies, and responsibilities. It is unnecessary to reveal the exact details of a security breach, and the new security program to the public.

The most recent allegations concern a man who jumped over the White House fence, entered the building, and ran through two rooms in the White House with a knife, before being apprehended. With this reveal came other stories, one about a contractor with a criminal record, who stood just inches form President Obama in an elevator, and another blunder in the response to a series of gun shots fired at the White House three years ago.

While it is important to have whistle-blowers and watchful citizens that make sure that the security forces of the United States are acting in a proper manner, and respecting the privacy and security of individuals, exposing flaws in the protocols publicly poses a danger to the safety of public officials and members of the security teams.

To those who are not interested in unlawfully entering the White House, fighting with a guard, and then being arrested, the detailed story about the intruder only serves as a shock. The average citizen has no power to change the way that the Secret Service operates, and cannot gain anything useful from detailed reveals of government security programs. Yes, it is frightening that the White House does not lock the front door, but scaring the public does not fix the problem.

Even if there was a positive side to the public reveals, the possible negative effects far outweigh the benefits. Using the information about the flaws in the security system, a terrorist could easily exploit the Secret Service's declared weaknesses. The only people that should have a full understanding of the flaws and capabilities of the Secret Service are agents of the Secret Service and public officials in Washington.

The ongoing public hearing in Congress has revealed past mistakes and current problems with the Secret Service to the world, describing exactly how to circumvent the President's protection. The hearing should be done behind closed doors, and the evidence and security review should be done privately. Unless the threat concerns the public's safety, there is no reason to reveal it to the world.

The United States has a responsibility to promote vigilance in its citizenry, and the citizens have a right to demand information when it does not jeopardize national security. In recent years, pressure has been mounting on the government to increase "transparency" and release  classified documents. This principle exposes problems with governmental policies, budget waste, corruption, and illegal surveillance to the public, putting pressure on public officials to make changes. However, in the digital age that we live in today, these public reveals can threaten the safety of our public officials, and the safety of the nation.