The Department of Homeland Security “is streamlining classification guidance and more clearly identifying categories of what can be released and what needs to remain classified,” according to a new report from the DHS Inspector General. The Reducing Over-classification Act of 2010 required the Inspector General at each executive branch agency that classifies information to evaluate […]
New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has withheld from broad public distribution include the following. Financial Disclosure by Federal Officials and Publication of Disclosure Reports, August 22, 2013 Defense Surplus Equipment Disposal: Background Information, August 22, 2013 Iraq: Politics, Governance, and Human Rights, August 22, 2013 The United Arab Emirates […]
Mental health problems in the military are on the rise and pose a growing challenge to active duty forces, the Congressional Research Service said in a major new report on the subject. “Between 2001 and 2011, the rate of mental health diagnoses among active duty servicemembers increased approximately 65%. A total of 936,283 servicemembers, or […]
“Modern combat is chaotic, intense, and shockingly destructive. In your first battle, you will experience the confusing and often terrifying sights, sounds, smells, and dangers of the battlefield–but you must learn to survive and win despite them…. You must keep faith with your fellow Soldiers, remember your training, and do your duty to the best […]
By Hans M. Kristensen MSNBC used FAS data on the world nuke arsenals in an interview with Ploughshares Fund president Joe Cirincione about how deteriorating US-Russian relations might affect efforts to reduce nuclear arsenals. The updated weapons estimates on the FAS web site are here. Detailed profiles of each nuclear weapon state are published as […]
“The recent disclosure of classified information regarding U.S. national security programs requires a thorough assessment of the current classification system,” wrote Rep. Duncan Hunter in a letter to the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress. The leaks by Edward Snowden, in other words, are a sign that there are serious problems in government […]
The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 generally prohibits military forces from performing ordinary civilian law enforcement functions such as arrest, surveillance, interdiction, search and seizure. But a newly updated Department of Defense doctrinal publication notes that, despite this prohibition, “There are several forms of direct assistance to civilian law enforcement by military personnel that are […]
On July 30, a military judge found Army Pfc. Bradley Manning guilty of multiple violations of the Espionage Act and other laws because of his unauthorized disclosure of restricted government records to the WikiLeaks website. On July 31, the Secretary of the Army formally established the Army Insider Threat Program. Remarkably, this is still a […]
Updated below, Updated again, 8/9/13 The U.S. military has been investigating the use of sophisticated data mining tools to probe social media and other open sources in order to support military operations against money laundering, drug trafficking, terrorism and other threats. But the window for doing so may be closing as the social media landscape […]
New and newly updated Congressional Research Service reports that Congress has withheld from online public distribution include the following. Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and the Role of Congress in Trade Policy, August 2, 2013 Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and Its Role in U.S. Trade Policy, August 5, 2013 Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms: Economic, Program, […]
The Director of National Intelligence last month issued a revised Classified Information Nondisclosure Agreement, also known as Standard Form 312 or SF 312. It is a binding legal agreement that must be signed by each of the nearly 5 million people who are cleared for access to classified information. It affirms that the unauthorized disclosure […]
New and newly updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has withheld from online public distribution include the following. Military Sexual Assault: Chronology of Activity in Congress and Related Resources, July 30, 2013 Retaining and Preserving Federal Records in a Digital Environment: Background and Issues for Congress, July 26, 2013 Detention of U.S. […]