The expansion of official secrecy now poses a challenge to basic democratic processes, argues a new report (pdf) from OpenTheGovernment.org and People for the American Way. In a highly readable account, the report explains why openness is a virtue, explores how secrecy impedes public deliberation, and considers what can be done about it. “As Congress […]
Upon publication this month, “Legacy of Ashes” by Tim Weiner of the New York Times has all at once become the best single source on the history of the Central Intelligence Agency. The book synthesizes entire shelves of prior studies, and surpasses them with the fruits of deep archival research and two decades of on-the-record […]
A dozen trucks identified at possible missile launch sites near Delingha in the northern parts of central China resemble the DF-21 medium-range ballistic missile launcher. If correct, about a third of China’s DF-21 inventory is deployed within striking distance of Russian ICBM fields. By Hans M. Kristensen China has significantly reorganized facilities believed to be […]
The Federation of American Scientists is profoundly disturbed by the testimony of former Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona at the July 10th hearing of the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee. At the hearing, Surgeon General Carmona described a dismaying number of cases where he was forced to weaken or suppress reports providing public health […]
A pending Senate bill would suspend funding for the Office of Vice President next year unless Vice President Cheney agrees to comply with the oversight provisions of the executive order on classification, something he claims he is not obliged to do. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services, included […]
The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence endorsed a statutory prohibition that prevents the Department of Defense from granting security clearances to former convicts who have served a year or more in jail, individuals who are mentally incompetent, are drug addicts, or have been dishonorably discharged from the military. The Pentagon had requested a repeal of […]
A federal appeals court yesterday heard oral arguments in a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit seeking disclosure of two Vietnam-era editions of the President’s Daily Brief. The Central Intelligence Agency refused to disclose the two PDBs to University of California professor Larry Berman, who filed the lawsuit in cooperation with the lawfirm Davis Wright Tremaine […]
Recent Congressional Research Service reports on Navy acquisition programs and related topics include these (all pdf). “Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress,” updated June 12, 2007. “Navy DDG-1000 (DD(X)) and CG(X) Ship Acquisition Programs: Oversight Issues and Options for Congress,” updated June 11, 2007. “Navy CG(X) Cruiser Design Options: Background […]
Some other recently updated Congressional Research Service reports that have not been made freely available to the public include these (all pdf). “China’s Currency: Economic Issues and Options for U.S. Trade Policy,” updated June 28, 2007. “Military Airlift: C-17 Aircraft Program,” updated June 5, 2007. “Indonesia: Domestic Politics, Strategic Dynamics, and American Interests,” updated June […]
One of the few comparatively new features in the post-cold war landscape of U.S. intelligence is the emergence of dozens of domestic intelligence “fusion centers.” These are state and local offices across the country that are supposed to integrate (or “fuse”) multiple information streams from national intelligence sources together with local law enforcement and other […]
Some recently updated reports of the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following (all pdf). “Statutory Offices of Inspector General: Past and Present,” updated June 21, 2007. “Medal of Honor Recipients: 1979-2007,” updated May 29, 2007. “GAO: Government Accountability Office and General Accounting Office,” updated June […]
Some of the most important news in Department of Defense information policy has to do with what did not happen. Earlier this year, the Pentagon asked Congress to enact two new provisions that would have restricted public access to broad swaths of unclassified information. But Congress declined to approve either one. One provision would have […]