Sometimes when you have a clearance, you know things that others don't, and in a public debate, you can 'know' the other side is wrong, but you can't correct them. You can't bring the information you know to bear because it's secret. You can't prove your points. You lose the argument, even if you're right.

Tom loses the argument, here. Maybe one day private facts become public and he is vindicated, but for now, he loses.