Air Force Special Operations February 7, 2006
U.S. Air Force doctrine on special operations is presented in a new Air Force publication. “This publication provides the overarching doctrinal guidance for the conduct of Air Force special…
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China Is Building A Second Nuclear Missile Silo Field
Satellite images reveal that China is building a second nuclear missile silo field. The discovery follows the…
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DNA for Data Storage and Retrieval
To reduce the burden on traditional data centers, improving on DNA data storage could be the key The pace at which data - such as photos, videos, and social media posts - are being generated is ramping up drastically, exceeding the scaling limits of traditional silicon-based data storage technologies, and…
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Pentagon Sees “Increased Potential” for Nuclear Conflict
The possibility that nuclear weapons could be used in regional or global conflicts is growing, said a newly disclosed Pentagon doctrinal publication on nuclear war fighting that was updated last year. "Despite concerted US efforts to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in international affairs and to negotiate reductions in the…
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DoD Again Presses for New FOIA Exemption
The Department of Defense is once again asking Congress for an exemption from the Freedom of Information Act for certain unclassified military information including records on critical infrastructure and military tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs). The latest proposal was included in the Pentagon's draft of legislative language for the Fiscal Year 2022…
Read moreSecrecy of Mine Inspections Reduced February 6, 2006
In a rare relaxation of mounting restrictions on disclosure of government information, the Labor Department has agreed to reverse its policy of withholding notes taken by mine safety inspectors from…
Read moreBiosecurity legislation for 2006 February 6, 2006
Here I detail the two major pieces of biosecurity legislation up for consideration by Congress this year, S.1873, The Biodefense and Pandemic Vaccine and Drug Development Act of 2005 and S.1880, The National Biodefense and Pandemic Preparedness Act of 2005. They both address similar issues relating to the nation's ability to develop countermeasures against emerging public health threats including bioterrorism agents and avian influenza. However, there are fairly significant differences between them. My understanding is that the Republicans and Democrats have not gotten together to discuss these two bills yet. Please feel free to get in touch with me directly if you have any questions. mstebbins@fas.org
Read moreSunshine Week on the Way February 6, 2006
Sunshine Week is a broad-based initiative intended to focus public concern over the growth of official secrecy. During the week of March 13, 2006, there will be a series…
Read morePentagon Abandons Revision of Nuclear Doctrine February 6, 2006
The Department of Defense has abandoned plans to revise its Doctrine for Joint Nuclear Operations. The draft revision became controversial when it was disclosed last year because of its unusually…
Read moreCIA on Remote Medical Diagnosis (1979) February 6, 2006
A noteworthy article from the CIA’s Studies in Intelligence Journal, published in 1979 and declassified last year, describes the use of “remote medical diagnosis” for foreign intelligence purposes. “Remote…
Read moreMau-Mauing the Congressional Research Service February 4, 2006
Congressional Research Service analyses of the Bush Administration’s domestic surveillance activity have been exceptionally influential, and their influence has been magnified by media coverage that has sometimes overstated the rather…
Read morePentagon Cancels Controversial Nuclear Doctrine Documents February 2, 2006
The Pentagon has formally cancelled a controversial revision of its Doctrine for Joint Nuclear Operations after the document was exposed last year in an article in Arms Control…
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