Last week the Senate Intelligence Committee released two heavily redacted reports on pre-Iraq war intelligence, but according to two Senators who had full access to the reports, the parts which remain classified were not classified for national security reasons, but to cover up wrongdoing.

“I am very troubled that some information in these reports has been classified even though its release would have no impact on national security,” said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). “I am particularly concerned it appears that information may have been classified to shield individuals from accountability. We must strike a balance between protecting legitimate national security interests and ensuring people’s rights to information about their safety and security.”

Wyden said he would ask the Public Interest Declassification Board to review the documents to determine whether the reports were overclassified, the first time a Member of Congress has ever done so.

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said that the classified portions contain “deeply disturbing information” and “cover up certain highly offensive activities.”

“Even the partially released picture is plenty bleak, about the administration’s use of falsehoods and distortions to build public support for the war. But the public is entitled to the full picture. Unless this report is further declassified, they won’t get it.”

The first of the two reports, (PDF) which was approved by the Intelligence Committee 14-1, analyzes post-invasion findings regarding Saddam Hussein’s alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction and links to terrorism. It concludes that the Saddam regime did not possess weapons of mass destruction and was not actively pursuing them. It also concludes that Saddam did not have an active relationship with Al-Qaida and generally was distrustful of Osama bin Laden and his associates.

The second report (PDF) examines the use of intelligence provided by the Iraqi National Congress (INC) to the U.S. intelligence community. That report, which the Intelligence Committee approved 11-4, concludes that the INC attempted to influence U.S. policy and provided false information through defectors about weapons of mass destruction and Saddam’s links to terrorism. — Sen. Ron Wyden

“This is a textbook case of abuse of the classification system,” Wyden said. “Unfortunately, this sort of intelligence abuse has gone on for years and it’s just not good government.”

Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has proposed an amendment to the pending maritime security bill which would require further declassification of the documents.

War planning for Iraq began as early as October 2001, according to State Department documents released last year.