“The humanitarian crisis many feared would take place in March 2003 as a result of the war in Iraq appears to be unfolding,” says a new report (pdf) from the Congressional Research Service. “It is estimated that in total (including those displaced prior to the war) there may be two million Iraqi refugees who have […]
The Central Intelligence Agency has released a newly declassified version of its closely-held internal history of the Berlin Tunnel Operation (pdf), which was an effort in the mid-1950s to tap into Soviet communications through a tunnel constructed in the Soviet sector of Berlin. The operation was famously compromised by a Soviet mole in British intelligence […]
A former polygrapher for the Central Intelligence Agency has filed a lawsuit (pdf) alleging that the Agency unlawfully retaliated against him for publishing a critical account of CIA polygraph programs. John Sullivan, author of the forthcoming book “Gatekeeper: Memoirs of a CIA Polygraph Examiner,” argued that his security clearance was improperly revoked in the course […]
At the request of Sen. Carl Levin, the Department of Defense has declassified most of its February 2007 Inspector General report (large pdf) on the pre-Iraq war activities of the DoD Office of Special Plans, led by Douglas Feith. “It is important for the public to see why the Pentagon’s Inspector General concluded that Secretary […]
“Congressional Access to Classified National Security Information” is the subject of a report prepared by Kate Martin of the Center for National Security Studies on the occasion of a March 30 forum on the subject sponsored by OpenTheGovernment.org and the Center for American Progress. Government attorneys defended (pdf) their contention that some evidence to be […]
An eagerly awaited book on the history of the Chinese nuclear weapons program will not be published due to objections from the Central Intelligence Agency, which said it contains classified information. A federal court last week ruled (pdf) that the CIA was within its rights to block disclosure of 23 sections of a manuscript by […]
A study (pdf) performed recently for the U.S. Department of Agriculture documented the search for geospatial information — satellite imagery, maps, aerial photography and other records — on Haiti. In so doing, the authors provided a template and a guide to accessing the wealth of worldwide geospatial data that is now in the public domain. […]
The Dual Axis Radiographic Hydro-Test facility (DARHT) at Los Alamos Laboratory was the subject of a technical assessment from the mysterious JASON defense science advisory panel. A copy of the October 2006 study, simply entitled “DAHRT,” is here (pdf). It was first reported on April 1 in the Albuquerque Journal by John Fleck, who also […]
Some recently updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following (all pdf). “Declarations of War and Authorizations for the Use of Military Force: Historical Background and Legal Implications,” updated March 8, 2007. “The Iran Sanctions Act (ISA),” updated January 25, 2007. “Homeland Security: […]
Gary Sellers, who was an attorney, a cherry farmer, a former congressional aide, husband, father and many other things, died last month in a car accident. “He was very interested in openness in government,” his wife Sally Determan said, and so the family asked fellow mourners to give donations to the FAS Project on Government […]
Last month, there were three significant congressional committee hearings dealing with the Department of Homeland Security biodefense budget for FY’08. The Science and Technology Directorate’s budget request reached $799.1 million including $142.6 million for Administration and $656.5 million for research, development, testing and evaluation. A big chunk of that budget, $228.9 million was requested for […]
Global climate change “represents a clear and present danger to the security and economy of the United States,” according to a bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate yesterday, and it therefore warrants the focused attention of U.S. intelligence agencies. “For years, many of us have examined global warming as an environmental or economic issue,” said […]