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START in a Lame Duck

The Senate should vote on the New START during the “lame duck” session. The New START arms control treaty, negotiated between the United States and Russia and signed by the presidents of both countries last April, is awaiting ratification by the United States Senate.   Objections to the treaty rest primarily upon misunderstandings or misrepresentation.  In […]

11.13.10 | 1 min read
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Global Risk
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Chinese Nuclear Forces 2010

. By Hans M. Kristensen It’s interesting scary what you can find on the Internet: On Thursday, a Canadian calling himself SinoSoldier posted a report on the Pakistani web site Pakistan Defense claiming that China had test launched a JL-3 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from a submarine in the Atlantic (!). Different versions allegedly have […]

11.12.10 | 1 min read
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Global Risk
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Mystery Missile: this question can be answered.

Like many techie sorts interested in military matters, I was caught up in the great California missile plume mystery.  I first heard about it when a reported called with questions and she sent a link to a video.  A traffic helicopter, an often underappreciated source of strategic intelligence, working for a local news station, KCAL, […]

11.10.10 | 4 min read
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FAS
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Prompt Global Strike and Nuclear Arms Control

“Prompt global strike” refers to the possibility of destroying a target anywhere on Earth within minutes or hours using bombers, cruise missiles or ballistic missiles armed with conventional warheads. The prompt global strike mission and its various implications were examined in a new report (pdf) from the Congressional Research Service. Some argue that a conventional […]

11.10.10 | 1 min read
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FAS
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SALT and the Classic Era of Arms Control

The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks between the U.S. and the Soviet Union that led to the signing of the SALT I Treaty in 1972 were documented in exhaustive detail in the latest volume of the official State Department publication Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS). The new FRUS volume (pdf), which is more than […]

11.10.10 | 1 min read
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FAS
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Foreign Corrupt Practices, and More from CRS

“More and more prosecutions” under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act may be expected, said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer last month. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act is intended to prevent and punish bribery of foreign officials by U.S. firms.  “The executive branch appears to have increased oversight of suspected American businesses for alleged violations,” […]

11.10.10 | 2 min read
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FAS
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A New Policy on Controlled Unclassified Info

The White House today issued an executive order to establish a uniform policy for handling “controlled unclassified information” (CUI), which is information that is restricted from disclosure because it involves personal privacy, proprietary data, law enforcement investigations, or for certain other reasons besides national security. The new CUI framework will replace the multiplicity of agency […]

11.05.10 | 2 min read
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FAS
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Army Weapon Systems Handbook 2011

The U.S. Army has published its 2011 Weapon Systems handbook, a catalog of current weapon programs that are in various phases of the acquisition process.  A copy was obtained by Secrecy News. Many of the programs are mature and familiar; others are less so.  In each case, the program’s purpose and status are described, contractors […]

11.05.10 | 1 min read
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FAS
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CRS on India-U.S. Relations

In advance of President Obama’s visit to India this weekend, the Congressional Research Service has prepared an updated assessment of “India-U.S. Relations” (pdf), dated October 27, 2010.

11.04.10 | 1 min read
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FAS
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A Step Towards Intelligence Budget Reform

Now that regular publication of the intelligence budget total has been accepted as the new norm, it is becoming possible to dismantle the related structures of budget secrecy that no longer serve any purpose.  In particular, the prospect of establishing a stand-alone intelligence budget that is independent of the budget of the Department of Defense […]

11.03.10 | 2 min read
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FAS
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Surveillance Court Issues New Rules of Procedure

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which reviews government applications for domestic intelligence surveillance, issued new rules (pdf) on Monday to govern its proceedings.  The new rules differ only slightly from the draft rules (pdf) that were issued for public comment in late August (“FISA Court Proposes New Court Rules,” Secrecy News, September 2, 2010).  In […]

11.03.10 | 3 min read
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FAS
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The Definition of Piracy, and More from CRS

Noteworthy new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following (all pdf). “Piracy: A Legal Definition,” October 19, 2010. “Proliferation Control Regimes: Background and Status,” October 18, 2010. “Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress,” October 15, 2010. “Armed Career Criminal Act (18 U.S.C. 924(e)): An Overview,” October 13, 2010. […]

11.03.10 | 1 min read
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