FAS Roundup: August 4, 2014

Advancing U.S. Leadership in Nonproliferation and Nuclear Energy through Effective Partnerships

Although the United States still has the largest number of nuclear power plants in the world, it does not dominate global nuclear power. While the United States was the leading nuclear power supplying nation more than thirty years ago, the reality today is clearly that the U.S. nuclear industry is only one of several major suppliers. In a new FAS issue brief, Dr. Charles Ferguson takes a look at options for the United States to gain back leadership via a cooperative approach. The brief analyzes what nations could be effective partners for the United States in furthering nonproliferation while providing for the continued use of peaceful nuclear energy.

Read the issue brief Advancing U.S. Leadership in Nonproliferation and Nuclear Energy through Effective Partnerships.

From the Blogs

When the Administration Asks Itself to Declassify: In preparing its recent report on the Section 702 surveillance program, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) demonstrated an unusual mode of declassification, in which one executive branch agency asks another agency to declassify information. In this case, the process was remarkably productive, and it may offer a precedent for future declassification efforts. In what the PCLOB staff termed a “lateral declassification” model, it was an executive branch agency (i.e., the PCLOB itself) — rather than Congress or members of the public — that pressed another government agency (ODNI, NSA, CIA, FBI or Justice) to declassify specific information.

Russia Declared in Violation of INF Treaty: New Cruise Missile May Be Deploying: The United States publicly accused Russia of violating the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in the State Department’s 2014 Compliance Report which was released on July 29. Russia is accused of launching a ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM) in 2007. Yet, there is a lack of details in the unclassified report about the specific violation. Hans Kristensen writes that the accusation is likely to stir up calls for the U.S. to abandon the INF Treaty and arms control efforts, which would undercut benefits from existing and future agreements.

Identity Intelligence and Special Operations: “Identity intelligence” is a relatively new intelligence construct that refers to the analysis and use of personal information to identify intelligence targets of interest and to deny them anonymity. Recently, an updated U.S. Department of Defense publication on special operations noted this month that “Identity intelligence products enable real-time decisions in special operations worldwide.”

U.S.-Russia Economic Relations and More from CRS: Secrecy News has obtained recently released CRS reports on topics such as sanctions on Russia, protecting civilian flights from missiles, measuring the loss of manufacturing jobs and defense surplus equipment disposal.

FAS in the News

• Aug 1: Newsweek, “Marshall Islands Nuclear Lawsuit Reopens Old Wounds”
• Jul 31: Global Security Newswire, “Pakistani Leader Said Intent On Developing New Nuclear ‘Understanding’ With India”
• Jul 31: International Business Times, “CIA Director John Brennan Admits Spies Monitored Senate Computers, Apologizes” 
• Jul 31: Global Security Newswire, “Russia May Be Deploying Missile Tied To Treaty Violation” 
• Jul 31: The Guardian, “CIA Admits To Spying On Senate Staffers”
• Jul 31: Huffington Post, “Ukraine And The Media Drumbeat”
• Jul 30: The Times of India, “The Indian-American Finger On US Nuclear Button”
• Jul 30: Center for Public Integrity, “Unpaid Tax Debts Surprisingly Frequent Among Those With U.S. Security Clearances” 
• Jul 28: The Guardian, “Senators Consider Obscure Rule In CIA Torture Report Declassification Debate”
• Jul 25: Huffington Post, “Malaysia Air Flight 17: Let Grief, Not Anger, Guide Us”