An ongoing modernization effort has provided China with an increasingly sophisticated and proficient naval force, the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) said in a new assessment (large pdf). Notably, China has “developed the world’s only anti-ship ballistic missile,” which ONI said was “specifically designed to defeat U.S. carrier strike groups” in the event of […]
“In recent years, China has become the world’s fastest growing automotive producer,” according to a new report (pdf) from the Congressional Research Service. “[China’s] annual vehicle output has increased from less than 2 million vehicles in the late 1990s to 9.5 million in 2008. In terms of production volume in 2008, China has surpassed Korea, […]
The role of military commissions in adjudicating the cases of suspected terrorist detainees at Guantanamo and elsewhere was critically examined in two House Judiciary Subcommittee hearings last July, the records of which have just been published. “My concern remains,” said Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), who chaired the hearings, “that we may be creating a system […]
The U.S. Army has published the latest edition of its Army Weapon Systems handbook, cataloging dozens of Army weapons with descriptive information, status updates, contractor relationships, and images. “The systems listed in this book are not isolated, individual products,” the introduction says. “Rather, they are part of an integrated investment approach to make the Army […]
A 1988 U.S. Supreme Court decision known as Department of the Navy v. Egan has often been interpreted to support broad presidential authority over national security generally and over access to classified information in particular. Along with United States v. Reynolds, Curtiss-Wright, and a few other cases, Egan is regularly cited in support of strong, […]
A new law review article argues that government secrets can be usefully distinguished in terms of “depth”– i.e. “how many people know of their existence, what sorts of people know, how much they know, and how soon they know…. Attending to the depth of state secrets can make a variety of conceptual and practical contributions […]
by: Alicia Godsberg The First Committee of this year’s 64th United Nations General Assembly (GA) just wrapped up a month of meetings. The GA breaks up its work into six main committees, and the First Committee deals with disarmament and international security issues. During the month-long meetings, member states give general statements, debate on such […]
by Matt Schroeder Photos of firearms seized from criminals in Colombia are poignant reminders of the importance of strong controls on government arsenals. The photos, which were provided to the FAS’ Arms Sales Monitoring Project by the Colombian National Police, are of firearms reportedly seized in the department of Narino from a paramilitary group called […]
The U.S. intelligence community is making steady progress towards “an advanced state of intelligence integration and information sharing” regarding potential threats to the U.S. and its allies from the sea and the air, according to a new report from the Director of National Intelligence. “Threats that terrorists and other illicit actors pose to the nation’s […]
Last year, scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory thought they had successfully rebuffed a controversial government attempt to impose new background investigations on JPL employees under NASA’s interpretation of President Bush’s Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12. A federal appeals court concurred (pdf) with the scientists that the new investigations into employee personal histories were intrusive, […]
Noteworthy new reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following (all pdf). “National Security Letters: Proposed Amendments in the 111th Congress,” October 28, 2009. “U.S. Fossil Fuel Resources: Terminology, Reporting, and Summary,” October 28, 2009. “Unconventional Gas Shales: Development, Technology, and Policy Issues,” October […]
Scripps College in Claremont, CA has been holding a semester-long series of lectures, films and other programs on the theme of “Secrets in a Democracy.” I will be speaking there on November 11.