The Bush Administration’s use of Presidential signing statements to assert objections to enacted legislation reflects an attempt to expand and consolidate Presidential authority at the expense of Congress, according to a new analysis (pdf) from the Congressional Research Service. “It seems evident that the Bush signing statements are an integral part of the Administration’s efforts […]
Instead of defending Congressional prerogatives, Congress appears eager to transfer new, unchecked authority to the President in the name of combating terrorism. A bill on military commissions for trial of enemy detainees that was approved in the House this week would permanently alter the complexion of the U.S. government by authorizing abuse of prisoners, curtailing […]
Classification is the predominant means of protecting national security information. But even when information is unclassified, there are a number of statutes that can be used to restrict its public availability on security-related grounds. Such statutory controls on unclassified security-related information are usefully cataloged in a new report from the Congressional Research Service. See “Protection […]
“We believe that the more we inform our American citizens, the better our government will be,” President Bush said Tuesday. The remark could be considered conventional wisdom. Yet it is unexpected from this President since by most objective measures — such as the record number of classification decisions, skyrocketing expenditures on classification-related activities, and growing […]
Some noteworthy new reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following (all pdf). “Interrogation of Detainees: Overview of the McCain Amendment,” updated September 25, 2006. “The War Crimes Act: Current Issues,” September 25, 2006. “U.S. Policy Regarding the International Criminal Court,” updated August 29, […]
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission says that it will no longer conceal the amounts of highly enriched uranium (HEU) fuel proposed for export to foreign research reactors. The announcement marks a step back from the heightened secrecy adopted by the NRC and other government agencies post-September 11. The revised policy had been sought by the […]
The Central Intelligence Agency requires current and former employees to submit all intelligence-related material that they intend to publish to the CIA for pre-publication review. Depending on the political climate, the subject matter and sometimes the personalities involved, the pre-publication review process can be routine and relatively painless, or it can be a bureaucratic nightmare […]
Some noteworthy military, intelligence and classification-related publications that have recently been issued include the following (all pdf). “Joint Operations,” JP 3-0 published on September 17, 2006 by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, “reflects the current guidance for conducting joint and multinational activities across the range of military operations.” “The Iraqi Documents: A Glimpse Into the […]
Congress has appropriated about $437 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through FY 2006, according to a newly updated report from the Congressional Research Service. See “The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11” (pdf), updated September 22, 2006. Some other notable new CRS reports that have […]
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The U.S. Department of Justice said this week that it will seek to overturn a federal court ruling that required the National Reconnaissance Office to process a request from the Federation of American Scientists for release of NRO budget documents. In a July 24, 2006 decision (pdf), Judge Reggie B. Walton had ruled that the […]
Contrary to allegations by some military officers and members of Congress, the Top Secret Department of Defense intelligence analysis program known as ABLE DANGER “did not identify Mohammed Atta or any other of the 9/11 terrorists before the 9/11 attack,” a review by the Department of Defense Inspector General concluded (9.2 MB PDF). Rep. Curt […]