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 […]
Today in a hearing of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce it was revealed by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that the Department of Homeland Security’s plan to move foot and mouth disease research to the mainland United States is based on faulty assumptions. Foot and mouth disease is caused by the most infectious […]
The National Cyber Security Initiative, which is “the single largest… and most important initiative” in next year’s budget, is being conducted under “excessive classification,” the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) said in its new report on the 2009 intelligence authorization act. For the cyber security program to function as intended, “it will require […]
A new searchable index of hundreds of thousands of documents held by the Air Force Historical Research Agency has been created by private researchers and posted online. The index does not provide access to the underlying documents, which must be requested from AFHRA. Nevertheless, it has several interesting features. For one thing, it represents a […]
The National Archives and Records Administration today announced the establishment of a new Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Office that is intended to lead the implementation and oversight of a new White House policy on CUI, which is unclassified information that is deemed to require protection from disclosure. The CUI Office, to be headed by Information […]
Noteworthy new reports from the Congressional Research Service, obtained by Secrecy News, include the following (all pdf). “U.S. Nuclear Cooperation With India: Issues for Congress,” updated May 20, 2008. “Nuclear Weapons: The Reliable Replacement Warhead Program,” updated May 19, 2008. “Suits Against Terrorist States By Victims of Terrorism,” updated May 1, 2008. “Syria: Background and […]