Paul M. Weyrich, the influential culture warrior who leads the arch-conservative Free Congress Foundation, has called upon Congress to grant public access to products of the Congressional Research Service. “It seems to me that it is time to end the foolishness and just make the CRS website available to the general public,” Mr. Weyrich wrote […]
Sunshine Week, which falls this year on March 11-17, is an annual effort by news organizations, libraries and public interest groups to focus public attention on the importance of open government. Next week, dozens of programs across the country will explore the costs of secrecy, the virtues of openness, and the path forward. See this […]
The U.S. Air Force has decided to retire the Advanced Cruise Missile, the most modern and capable nuclear cruise missile in the U.S. arsenal, according to information obtained by the Federation of American Scientists. The decision affects approximately 400 ACMs (AGM-129A) currently deployed at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota and Barksdale Air Force […]
A federal appeals court ruled last week (pdf) that the overriding need to protect “state secrets” makes it impossible to litigate claims by a German citizen named Khaled el-Masri that he was illegally detained and abused by the Central Intelligence Agency in a case of “extraordinary rendition.” The appeals court upheld a lower court’s earlier […]
A reference manual (pdf) to assist government employees and contractors in correctly marking classified Department of Energy records has recently been published and distributed by DOE. See “DOE Marking Handbook: How to Mark Matter Containing Classified Information and Unclassified Controlled Information,” September 26, 2006.
Some recent products of the Congressional Research Service obtained by Secrecy News that have not previously been made readily available in the public domain include the following (all pdf). “Congressional Oversight of Intelligence: Current Structure and Alternatives,” updated February 15, 2007. “Intelligence Spending: Public Disclosure Issues,” updated February 15, 2007. “The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: […]
A sweeping proposal by Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) to criminalize the unauthorized disclosure or publication of classified information about U.S. Government activities relating to terrorism was abruptly withdrawn on February 28 in the face of vigorous protests by public interest, press and First Amendment advocacy groups. But then a modified, more narrowly focused version was […]
The Bush Administration formally notified (pdf) the Senate this week that it objects to a provision in a pending bill on homeland security that would require publication of the annual intelligence budget total. “The Administration strongly opposes the requirement in the bill to publicly disclose sensitive information about the intelligence budget.” “Disclosure, including disclosure to […]
The somber duties associated with official reporting of U.S. Army casualties, including notification of survivors, are spelled out in exhaustive detail in a new Army regulation (pdf). “Generally, casualty matters are unclassified,” the regulation states (obliquely admitting the possibility of classified casualties), “but they are assigned the protective marking of For Official Use Only” until […]
A legislative proposal by Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) that would criminalize the unauthorized disclosure or publication of classified information “concerning efforts by the United States to identify, investigate, or prevent terrorist activity” is drawing strong opposition even before it has been formally introduced. The Kyl proposal (pdf), which would amend the espionage statute at 18 […]
A new U.S. Air Force directive “provides policies for managing nuclear weapons and weapon systems, and for protecting personnel, property, and the environment from hazardous exposure to radioactive materials.” See Air Force Policy Directive 91-1, “Nuclear Weapons and Systems Surety” (pdf), 13 February 2007. Another new Air Force document on combating the threat or use […]
Analysts at the Congressional Research Service continue to churn out reports for Congress faster than they can reasonably be digested. Not all of them are of broad interest, nor do they consistently offer original content or significant analytical insight. But as long as Congress refuses to make them available online to the general public, there […]