On the same day that he became the presumptive Democratic nominee for President, Sen. Barack Obama introduced new legislation to expand public access to information about government spending. The bill (pdf), known as “The Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending Act of 2008,” was crafted on a bi-partisan basis with Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK). […]
Dozens of countries are conducting research involving animal pox viruses, according to a descriptive survey (pdf) performed for the U.S. intelligence community’s Open Source Center. There are various potential public health and security concerns associated with pox viruses (such as smallpox), the OSC report says in a background discussion. “Naturally occurring smallpox disease was eliminated […]
Not even a valid intelligence requirement can be used to justify cruel treatment of a detained enemy combatant, according to Defense Department doctrine on “detainee operations” (pdf). The Joint Chiefs of Staff last week issued a slightly revised version of that DoD doctrine on detainees (the second revision this year). The document reaffirms that all […]
Fusion centers are collaborative law enforcement and intelligence organizations that were established all over the country after 9/11 to share intelligence and counterterrorism information. But in the absence of a widespread domestic terrorist threat, they have not consistently demonstrated their value, according to a recent study. “Fusion centers emerged almost spontaneously in response to a […]
The U.S. Air Force last week issued revised procedures (pdf) for nuclear weapons maintenance and accounting. Meanwhile, the Air Force continues to suffer serious lapses in nuclear weapons security. The new procedures include increased supervision and auditing requirements for weapon storage, handling and transport. “Nuclear weapons require special consideration because of their political and military […]
The National Security Agency has released some additional declassified passages from its major historical study of Vietnam-era signals intelligence, “Spartans in Darkness: American SIGINT and the Indochina War, 1945-1975.” The large bulk of the 500-page report was declassified last December. But in response to a mandatory declassification review appeal from researcher Michael Ravnitzky, further declassifications […]
While U.S. intelligence operations are more controversial than ever, routine oversight of the Department of Defense’s massive and far-flung intelligence apparatus has been significantly reduced, according to a recent report to Congress from the DoD Inspector General. Due to resource limitations, “We have not been able to perform planned audits and evaluations in key intelligence […]
The textbooks that are used in Iranian elementary, middle and high schools “reveal a clear emphasis on Islam, as it has been interpreted by the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” according to a recent contractor study (pdf) performed for U.S. intelligence. That rather banal observation is among “the most important conclusions” of the […]
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 Strategy: Legislative Mandates, Execution to Date, and Considerations for Congress,” May 28, 2008. “Science, Technology, and American Diplomacy: Background and Issues for Congress,” May 22, 2008. “Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for […]
Government press releases could be temporarily marked as “controlled unclassified information” to protect them from premature disclosure, according to an official Background paper (pdf) on the new White House information security policy. Controlled unclassified information, or CUI, refers to information that does not meet the standards for classification but that is considered too sensitive for […]
Instead of new forms of secrecy, new mechanisms for actively informing the public about threats to homeland security are needed, said Stephen E. Flynn (pdf) of the Council on Foreign Relations at a May 15 hearing of a House Homeland Security subcommittee. “The targets of choice for current and future terrorists will be civilians and […]
Two new judges were named to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court this week, Secrecy News has learned, one a Clinton appointee and one a Reagan appointee. Judge Mary A. McLaughlin of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Judge James B. Zagel of the Northern District of Illinois were appointed to seven year terms on the […]