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Comment by darksaga | Hacker News Reader

I would think the people who designed the system would have had several layers of security as it relates to their database. I've only designed a few myself, but even I know all your users shouldn't have the same privileges. The more I read this story, the more I wonder why a private 1st class had full blown access to classified documents. It seems like security was an after thought, and now they're paying the price.

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It's the same issue to, in addition to interdepartmental sharing the belief was that overly restricting information inside organizations could keep it out of the hands of the one analyst that would put "plot x" together.

Keep in mind Manning was an intelligence analyst, and the documents he distributed were of low classification levels.

I think the bigger issue was with allowing him to retain access to classified data while obviously disgruntled and having issues with his chain of command. His unit should have pulled his clearance (if it ever should have been granted) once it became clear he was going to be separated from the army for cause, etc.

I hope his (transgendered, or gay, or something) sexual identity doesn't color public perception of the end of DADT; there are plenty of non-heterosexual members of the military who are not security risks. However, if he was getting separated over some "transition" related issues, that information would be relevant to a security clearance review in his particular case.

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