Recent reports of the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following (all pdf). “Defense: FY2008 Authorization and Appropriations,” updated July 30, 2007. “Africa Command: U.S. Strategic Interests and the Role of the U.S. Military in Africa,” updated July 6, 2007. “Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) Status […]
The latest report from the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia contains additional information about the shoulder-fired, surface-to-air missiles used by Islamic insurgents to shoot down a Belarusian cargo aircraft in March. Below is an excerpt from the UN report: On 23 March 2007, at approximately 1700 hours, an IL-76 cargo plane belonging to Transaviaexport, a […]
For the first time since it began debating the issue more than three decades ago, Congress is now poised to adopt legislation that will require — not merely recommend — public disclosure of the total national intelligence budget. “Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 2007, […]
Recent reports of the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following (all pdf). “U.N. Convention Against Torture (CAT): Overview and Application to Interrogation Techniques,” updated January 12, 2007. “Zimbabwe: Current Issues,” updated June 21, 2007. “Haiti: Developments and U.S. Policy Since 1991 and Current Congressional Concerns,” […]
Republican Congressman Dave Reichert (R-WA) is interested in developing legislation to streamline the classification system and to eliminate abuses, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Reichert uses personal experience as a benchmark for how overzealous classification can gum up the works and deny important information to those who need it. While investigating the Green River Killer […]
A major new report (pdf) from the Congressional Research Service provides a detailed account of Congress’s contempt power, including the use of contempt proceedings to coerce compliance with congressional demands for information or testimony and to punish non-compliance. “This report examines the source of the contempt power, reviews the historical development of the early case […]
Recently updated reports of the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include these (all pdf). “Supreme Court Appointment Process: Roles of the President, Judiciary Committee, and Senate,” updated June 25, 2007. “U.S.-Japan Economic Relations: Significance, Prospects, and Policy Options,” updated July 9, 2007. “Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) […]
The U.S. Senate is placing increased emphasis on exposing corruption and profiteering in military contracting in Iraq. Last week, Sen. James Webb (D-VA) introduced a bill with twenty co-sponsors that would establish a Commission on Wartime Contracting to investigate fraud and abuse in government contracts, including intelligence contracts, in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring […]
The U.S. Navy has issued its first security policy (pdf) for protection of “biological select agents and toxins” (BSAT) at Navy facilities, a move that may signify heightened Navy interest in research involving these lethal materials. Select agents are substances designated by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture that […]
Recently updated reports of the Congressional Research Service on nuclear weapons-related topics include these (all pdf): “Nuclear Warheads: The Reliable Replacement Warhead Program and the Life Extension Program,” updated July 16, 2007. “Nuclear Weapons: The Reliable Replacement Warhead Program,” updated July 13, 2007. “Nuclear Weapons: Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty,” updated July 12, 2007. “Nonproliferation and […]
The 1982 U.S. Army medical manual for special forces presented in Secrecy News yesterday is dangerously misleading and it should not be used in practice, one expert in military medicine warned. “That manual (pdf) is a relic of sentimental and historical interest only, advocating treatments that, if used by today’s medics, would result in disciplinary […]
A new publication of the Joint Chiefs of Staff presents U.S. military doctrine on “homeland defense” (pdf). “It provides information on command and control, interagency and multinational coordination, and operations required to defeat external threats to, and aggression against, the homeland.” See “Homeland Defense,” Joint Publication 3-27, July 12, 2007. The document further extends the […]