"Most governments lie to each other"

That was the testimony of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
before the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

He continued;

"That's the way business gets done."

In between the lines we read; it is acceptable.

For whatever reasons it is acceptable for governments to lie
to each other, is it not also acceptable for them to lie to their
people?

Is it acceptable for our government to lie to us?

Under certain circumstances, perhaps it is. There are secrets
in and about government which should reasonably be kept secret.

Which begs the fundamental question;

Who decides what gets kept secret, the people or
politicians and public servants?

I would argue that it stands to reason;
Secrets in and about our government are legitimately kept
from the people, only with the people's fully informed and
explicitly expressed consent; period.