The Security Post (with rant)

[neadods]

I've lost track of how long ago I promised a post about what it's like to live in a world full of security classifications and what TV (particularly RTD) gets wrong and right. Finally, I'm writing it.

Comments

[hildy]

Oh *thank you* for this post. I grew up in this area. As a daughter of two career worker bees in said company town, I know only too well how this place works. I've also done my share of contracting in either government agencies or their subcontractors or whatever. I've had my fingerprints taken and I've been interviewed. That was just a background check. I didn't even *get* a clearance.

There are the acronyms, there also the other little things I always grew up with, like the Hatch Act. I saw what happened with the early buyouts as the older more experienced government workers took the chance to leave. Also the Pentagon is down in Arlington; I'm used to seeing every branch of the military around, either on Metro or around the corner. Maybe not knowing their ranks and all, but I've come to know which uniforms are which.

There are the big shiny buildings like the White House and the Capitol and the federal office buildings. But there are hundreds of others we don't know about, even ones we shouldn't discuss or photograph. It's just accepted there are reasons. *shrugs* It's the way things around here.

I also saw how much & how fast security changed in this town after 9/11. I'm so accustomed to having to go through security in some fashion now, my pockets are already emptied when I go through airport security. It's second nature.

West Wing got the closest to the feel of Washington, of all the interconnected agencies and the reports and memos. NCIS wasn't too bad, although it can get some things really wrong. Bones is horrible at it. They name drop, but the references don't feel right, if you know what I mean?

[neadods]

*shrugs* It's the way things around here.

I seriously wish that the people who write spy stuff would spend a day just talking to the people who live that life in their country. Even if they can't talk about their work, you can learn a lot from reactions (says the person pinpointing workers in Hunt for Red October).

I also saw how much & how fast security changed in this town after 9/11

It went from a background hum to a daily thing, IMO. (Completely ruined my walking workout at NIH; the mile-long path went in and out of the facility and suddenly there were lines and checks instead of a nod to the guard.)

As far as I can tell, the people writing Bones have never even read a book about the FBI, much less talked to agents. Apparently Numb3rs hasn't either.