By Hans M. Kristensen The full unclassified New START treaty data set released by State Department yesterday shows that the US reduction of its nuclear forces to meet the treaty limit had been completed by September 1, 2017, more than four months early before the deadline next month on February 5, 2018. The data set […]
The U.S. Army this week published an overview of future military cyberspace operations. See The U.S. Army Concept for Cyberspace and Electronic Warfare Operations 2025-2040, TRADOC Pamphlet 525-8-6, 9 January 2018. The new Army publication is intended to promote development of cyber capabilities, to foster integration with other military functions, to shape recruitment, and to guide technology development […]
Mandatory minimum sentencing in drug-related criminal prosecutions has “contributed to an explosion in the federal prison population and attendant costs,” a new report from the Congressional Research Service on the laws of mandatory sentencing observes. “Thus, the federal inmate population at the end of 1976 was 23,566, and at the end of 1986 it was 36,042. On […]
Has the U.S. adopted a policy of regime change towards Iran? Government officials have sent different signals at different times. In 2006, President George W. Bush called for a “free and democratic” Iran, which appeared to be an endorsement of regime change. In 2013, President Obama explicitly disavowed a policy of regime change and referred to the country as […]
Several government officials who collectively represent much of the public face of the national security secrecy system have retired recently. They include: * Sheryl Shenberger, Director of the National Declassification Center * Stephen Randolph, Historian of the State Department * David J. Sherman, NSA Associate Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy * Joseph Lambert, CIA […]
Over the last three years, Congress has sharply increased its legislative activity on defense acquisition reform, with an average of 82 new provisions in this area per year, compared to an average of 47 provisions in the previous decade. “Reform” here often means expanded authority to acquire military goods and services with increased flexibility. A […]
Excessive compartmentalization of intelligence can be counteracted by the use of “portfolios” of compartmented programs, according to new intelligence community guidance. Undue secrecy in intelligence is not only a barrier to external oversight and public accountability. It can also be an obstacle to effective mission performance. That is fortunate in a way since it provides […]
“The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years,” President Trump provocatively tweeted yesterday, adding falsely that “they have given us nothing but lies & deceit.” A breakdown of US aid to Pakistan (excluding covert assistance) was recently provided by the Congressional Research Service. See […]
Over the past decade the Department of Energy/NNSA has recovered thousands of sealed radioactive isotope sources from around the world that were abandoned, unwanted or no longer needed. Sealed nuclear sources are utilized for a variety of industrial, medical or military purposes. But at the end of their useful life they can still pose a […]
The speech or debate clause of the US Constitution provides Members of Congress (and their staff) with civil and criminal immunity for “legislative acts” that they perform in the course of their duties, shielding them from harassment or intimidation. The clause is “a key pillar in the American separation of powers” that serves to “protect […]
The Department of Defense last month abandoned a 2008 policy that would have reduced the U.S. inventory of cluster munitions and imposed strict new safety and quality control standards on these anti-personnel weapons, which have been implicated in numerous civilian fatalities. “We must not lose our qualitative and quantitative competitive advantage against potential adversaries that […]
President Trump created an entire new category of presidential directives to present his guidance for the U.S. space program. The new Space Policy Directive 1 was signed on December 11 and published in the Federal Register today. “President Donald Trump is sending astronauts back to the Moon,” enthused NASA public affairs in a news release. […]