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The Depreciating Dollar, and More from CRS

New or updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following. The Depreciating Dollar:  Economic Effects and Policy Response, February 23, 2012 Monetary Policy and the Federal Reserve: Current Policy and Conditions, January 30, 2012 Evaluating the Current Stance of Monetary Policy Using a Taylor Rule, January 30, 2012 Who Earns Pass-Through Business Income? […]

02.29.12 | 1 min read
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FAS
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DoD Issues New Information Security Regulation

The Department of Defense has published its long-awaited new information security regulation that finally brings the Department into conformity with the Obama Administration’s 2009 executive order on national security classification policy. The new regulation, published in four volumes as DoD Manual 5200.01 and dated 24 February 2012, replaces Information Security Regulation 5200.1-R, which dates from […]

02.27.12 | 3 min read
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FAS
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DoD Responds to Questions on Nuclear Targeting

Are U.S. nuclear forces on “hair trigger” alert?  Not exactly, a Department of Defense official told Congress recently. “Although it is true that portions of the U.S. nuclear triad are capable of rapid execution upon authorization from the President, a robust system of safeguards and procedures is in place to prevent the accidental or unauthorized […]

02.27.12 | 2 min read
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Global Risk
Blog
Chinese Nuclear Modernization: Smaller and Later

DIA threat assessment shows slower Chinese nuclear modernization. . By Hans M. Kristensen At about the same time nuclear arms reduction opponents last week incorrectly accused the Obama administration of considering “reckless” cuts in nuclear forces that would leave the United States “with fewer warheads than China,” Congress received its annual threat assessment from the […]

02.24.12 | 4 min read
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FAS
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DoD Reports “Impressive Strides” in Updating Classification

The Department of Defense said it has cancelled more than 300 of its 1800 classification guides as a result of the ongoing Fundamental Classification Guidance Review.  The defunct guides can no longer be used to authorize the classification of national security information. “The Department has continued to make impressive strides in updating our Security Classification […]

02.22.12 | 2 min read
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FAS
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Media Orgs File Amicus Brief in Sterling Leak Case

Dozens of major news media organizations joined together to defend the notion of a reporter’s privilege to protect the identity of a confidential against compulsory disclosure. The organizations filed an amicus curiae brief in support of New York Times reporter James Risen, who has been subpoenaed to testify in the case of Jeffrey Sterling, the […]

02.22.12 | 2 min read
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FAS
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Characteristics of Members of Congress, and More from CRS

New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has not made readily available to the public include the following. Representatives and Senators: Trends in Member Characteristics Since 1945, February 17, 2012 The Federal Communications Commission: Current Structure and Its Role in the Changing Telecommunications Landscape, February 21, 2012 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter […]

02.22.12 | 1 min read
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FAS
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Pentagon Defends Record on Secrecy Reform

The Department of Defense has done a better job of complying with changes in national security classification policy than it has gotten credit for, Pentagon officials told a Senate Committee.  The number of classification guides that are up to date has increased from 30% to over 70%, the officials said, and a new four-volume information […]

02.21.12 | 3 min read
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FAS
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Post-WikiLeaks Network Monitoring Takes Shape

The heightened surveillance of classified government information networks that was a predictable response to the unauthorized disclosures published by WikiLeaks is becoming more clearly discernible. “USSTRATCOM/USCYBERCOM is monitoring use of the SIPRNet and now has a mechanism for reporting certain anomalous behaviors for appropriate remediation,” said Thomas A. Ferguson, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Intelligence) […]

02.21.12 | 2 min read
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FAS
Blog
CIA and Special Ops are “Deconflicted at All Levels”

“I will tell you the relationship between CIA and Special Operations Forces is as good as I have ever seen it,” said Adm. William H. McRaven, Commander of Special Operations Command, in congressional testimony last year. “Both under [CIA] Director Panetta, and now, of course, under Director Petraeus, I think we are going to see […]

02.21.12 | 2 min read
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FAS
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Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons, and More from CRS

New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that Congress has declined to make readily available to the public include the following. Extraterritorial Application of American Criminal Law, February 15, 2012 Civilian Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act: Federal Contractor Criminal Liability Overseas, February 15, 2012 Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons, February 14, 2012 The U.S. Export Control System […]

02.21.12 | 1 min read
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Global Risk
Blog
Nuclear Studies and Republican Disarmers

Despite an outcry from congressional republicans and conservatives against the Obama administration’s plans to reduce nuclear weapons, Republican presidents have been the big disarmers in the post-Cold War era.                                        Click graph for larger version . By […]

02.16.12 | 5 min read
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