Only crimes can take place in darkness

Found a good quote today:

"Only crimes could take place in darkness. Punishment had to be done in the light."  -- Samuel Vimes 

Guantanamo Bay's secret trials, black sites, secret kill lists for unmanned drones, NSA's secret surveillance programs, and "National Security Letters" (requiring libraries and communications providers to turn over records under a gag order).  These are all done in secrecy and darkness.  They are not punishments, and they cannot lead to punishments.  They are crimes.