New and updated reports on China and Taiwan from the Congressional Research Service include the following (all pdf). China-U.S. Trade Issues, August 10, 2011 U.S.-Taiwan Relationship: Overview of Policy Issues, August 4, 2011 China’s Currency: A Summary of the Economic Issues, August 3, 2011 Taiwan: Major U.S. Arms Sales Since 1990, August 2, 2011 U.S.-China […]
A newly released intelligence guide to document classification markings explains the meaning and proper use of control markings to designate classified information. See “Authorized Classification and Control Markings Register” (pdf), CAPCO, Volume 4, Edition 2, May 31, 2011. (See also the associated Implementation Manual of the same date.) This material is very detailed, comprehensive and […]
Prosecutors in the case of former CIA officer Jeffrey Sterling, who is accused of leaking classified information, should not be permitted to present their evidence at trial in modified or redacted form and should also not be able to employ other extraordinary security measures, defense attorneys argued in an August 19 pleading (pdf). Specifically, the […]
Recent reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following (all pdf). “The European Union: Foreign and Security Policy,” August 15, 2011 “Standard & Poor’s Downgrade of U.S. Government Long-Term Debt,” August 9, 2011 “The Obama Administration’s Cybersecurity Proposal: Criminal Provisions,” July 29, 2011
There can be such a thing as too much security, the Navy said in a new Instruction on “Operations Security” (pdf) or OPSEC. OPSEC refers to the control of unclassified indicators that an adversary could use to derive “critical information” (CI) concerning military or intelligence programs. “Properly applied, OPSEC contributes directly to operational effectiveness by […]
While information sharing among government agencies has increased dramatically over the past decade, it still falls short in some areas. Due to “impediments to intelligence information sharing between U.S. forces and coalition partners,” information sharing with U.S. allies in Afghanistan has faltered to the detriment of the military mission, the Inspector General of the Department […]
The Obama Administration is putting the finishing touches on a new executive order that is intended to improve the security of classified information in government computer networks as part of the government’s response to WikiLeaks. The order is supposed to reduce the feasibility and the likelihood of the sort of unauthorized releases of classified U.S. […]
How will Obama reduce the role of nuclear weapons in the strategic war plan? . By Hans M. Kristensen The Obama administration has begun a review of the president’s guidance to the military for how they should plan for the use of nuclear weapons. The review, which was first described in public by National Security […]
Even the most highly classified offensive cyberwar capabilities that are acquired by the Air Force for use against enemy computer systems will be subject to “a thorough and accurate legal review,” the U.S. Air Force said in a new policy directive (pdf). The directive assigns the Judge Advocate General to “ensure all cyber capabilities being […]
New reports from the Congressional Research Service on topics of economic policy include the following (all pdf). “Boosting U.S. Exports: Selected Issues for Congress,” July 21, 2011 “Economic Recovery: Sustaining U.S. Economic Growth in a Post-Crisis Economy,” July 18, 2011 “Inflation: Causes, Costs, and Current Status,” July 26, 2011 “Treasury Securities and the U.S. Sovereign […]
The government’s relentless pursuit of people suspected of mishandling or leaking classified information underscores the need to combat the misuse of classification authority, wrote J. William Leonard, the former director of the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO), in an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times today. “The Obama administration, which has criminally prosecuted more leakers […]
A bill that would curb the ability of courts to impose secrecy orders on public health and safety information was favorably reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. See the report (pdf) on the Sunshine in Litigation Act of 2011, August 2, 2011. “Court secrecy prevents the public from learning about public health and […]