New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following. Iran Policy and the European Union, CRS Insight, February 27, 2017 The European Union: Current Challenges and Future Prospects, updated February 27, 2017 The United Arab Emirates (UAE): Issues for U.S. Policy, updated February 28, 2017 Military Retirement: Background and Recent Developments, updated […]
By Hans M. Kristensen Today I spoke at the Nuclear Deterrence Summit about the role and challenges of US-Russian nuclear arms control efforts. My panel partner was Mark Schneider from NIPP and we were under the competent chairmanship of Vice Admiral Van Mauney (US Navu, Ret.), the former deputy commander of US Strategic Command. My […]
Executive branch agencies submitted 37 “crimes reports” to the Department of Justice last year regarding leaks of classified information. In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, wrote Patricia Matthews of the DOJ National Security Division, “We have conducted a search of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. A records search of that Section […]
Collection of more intelligence-related information does not necessarily translate into better intelligence. “Because of limitations associated with human cognition, and because much of the information obtained in war is contradictory or false, more information will not equate to better understanding.” What makes that sensible observation doubly interesting is that it was written by Lt.Gen. H.R. […]
There is no law that categorically prohibits all leaks of classified (or unclassified) information. Instead, there is a patchwork of statutes that outlaw some unauthorized disclosures under some circumstances. The various statutes that have been used to punish leaks of classified information are surveyed in a new publication from the Congressional Research Service. See The […]
The discipline of geospatial engineering and its role in U.S. military operations are described in a newly updated U.S. Army publication. “Geospatial engineering is an art and a science that pertains to the generation, management, analysis, and dissemination of geospatial information that is accurately referenced to a precise location on the earth and is used […]
President Donald Trump in an interview with Reuters today demonstrated an astounding lack of knowledge about basic nuclear weapons issues. According to Reuters Trump said he wanted to build up the US nuclear arsenal to ensure it is at the “top of the pack.” He said the United States has “fallen behind on nuclear weapons capacity.” […]
President Donald Trump in an interview with Reuters today demonstrated an astounding lack of knowledge about basic nuclear weapons issues. According to Reuters Trump said he wanted to build up the US nuclear arsenal to ensure it is at the “top of the pack.” He said the United States has “fallen behind on nuclear weapons capacity.” […]
Russian surveillance of military facilities under the Open Skies Treaty is problematic for the security of U.S. nuclear forces, a U.S. Air Force general told Congress last year. No, it is not, a U.S. Navy admiral said. Those two disparate views were offered in response to a question for the record from Rep. Mike Coffman […]
How does the European Union work? Does the EU Have a foreign policy? What is the Schengen Area? I don’t know, but Kristin Archick of the Congressional Research Service does. See her newly updated report on The European Union: Questions and Answers, updated February 21, 2017. Other noteworthy new or updated publications from the Congressional […]
U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch is the author of more than 800 legal opinions. “This provides an enormous–and perhaps unwieldy–body of law for those interested in learning about Judge Gorsuch’s approach to judging,” the Congressional Research Service says. To make it easier to assess that record, CRS has produced a listing of notable […]
Withdrawing from international agreements, as President Trump has proposed to do in certain cases, can be a complicated as well as a controversial step, a new report from the Congressional Research Service indicates. Aside from the wisdom of any such move, withdrawal raises distinct legal issues under both national and international law. “The legal regime governing […]