The steps by which the Justice Department conducts investigations of unauthorized disclosures of classified information (“leaks”) were described by then-Attorney General Janet Reno in 2000 testimony before a closed hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee. At a moment when some, such as Senator Jon Kyl, are proposing to enact new statutory penalties against leaks, it […]
Some recent products of the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following (all pdf). “China and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missiles: Policy Issues,” updated January 31, 2007. “National Guard Personnel and Deployments: Fact Sheet,” updated January 10, 2007. and courtesy of U.S. News […]
The conduct of warfare today raises challenging new legal issues that require prompt and operationally sound responses, according to a new publication (pdf) from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “Modern military operations take place in an increasingly complex geo-political environment. The classic scenario of defending against cross-border aggression represents only one of the challenges facing […]
The Federal Bureau of Investigation made numerous “improper and illegal” uses of the investigative tool known as “national security letters,” by which it gathers information in national security cases, a report (large pdf) by the Justice Department Inspector General found. The abuses identified by the Inspector General “did not involve criminal misconduct,” the report said. […]
Army policy on human resources — the mundane but vital identification, development, coordination and deployment of military personnel needed to accomplish Army objectives — is presented in a new Field Manual. See “Human Resources Support,” FM 1-0, February 2007 (223 pages, 6.0 MB PDF).
A new report (pdf) from a Dutch counterintelligence agency warns of the growing role of the Internet in Islamic extremist circles. “The Internet is an important platform for radicalisation and can even serve as a virtual [terrorist] training camp. Jihadis not only use the Internet as a resource, but can also attack the Internet itself […]
Some recent publications of the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following (all pdf). “Conventional Warheads For Long-Range Ballistic Missiles: Background and Issues for Congress,” updated February 9, 2007. “The National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center: Issues for Congress,” updated February 15, 2007. “National Security Surveillance […]
In a “shocking and inexcusable” action that may threaten the institution of congressional intelligence oversight, an anonymous Senator yesterday blocked Senate consideration of the pending Intelligence Authorization Act for FY 2007. No intelligence authorization bill has been passed by Congress for the past two years. If Congress remains unable to legislate an intelligence authorization act, […]
The Central Intelligence Agency improperly blocked a former CIA employee from disseminating unclassified information about what he considered illicit CIA contacts with a foreign national suspected of criminal acts, according to a lawsuit (pdf) filed this week in DC District Court. Franz Boening, who was employed by CIA from 1980 to 2005, contended that “the […]
In the course of an urgent search for the sources who were providing classified information to journalist Jack Anderson in 1971, the Nixon Administration discovered a surprising culprit. A Navy yeoman in the National Security Council named Charles Radford was not only the “almost certain source” of the Jack Anderson leaks, but he was also […]
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 […]