Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Charting GOP Super PAC Cash
By Josh Israel, ThinkProgress
23 February 12
Once again this week, independent-expenditure-only "Super PACs" disclosed their donors for the month of January 2012. A ThinkProgress analysis of these new filings and previously available data reveals that 19 wealthy donors have already given a million dollars or more each, combining to funnel $46.75 million to Republican-allied Super PACs so far this cycle.
It comes as little surprise that this list is dominated by financial sector investors (8), energy and chemical producers (4), and real estate developers (3). All are white. Only one, the wife of casino tycoon Sheldon Edelson, is female. The Obama administration has backed financial sector consumer protections and environmental regulations unpopular with big Wall Street and big energy.
The 19 donors’ contributions accounted for about 53 percent of the $88.2 million combined receipts for those committees. Here are the 19:
Donor Donations Sector
Harold Simmons/Contran Corp. $14.1M Chemicals
Sheldon Adelson $5M Casinos and hotels
Miriam Adelson $5M Casinos and hotels
Bob Perry $3.5M Real Estate/Construction
Peter Thiel $2.6M Finance/Investment
Jon Huntsman Sr. $2.2M Chemicals
Jerry Perenchio Living Trust $2M Media
Julian Robertson $1.25M Finance/Investment
Robert B. Rowling $1.1M Energy
Edward Conard $1M Finance/Investment
Robert Mercer $1M Finance/Investment
John Paulson $1M Finance/Investment
Paul Singer $1M Finance/Investment
Foster Friess $1M Finance/Investment
Rooney Holdings Inc. $1M Real Estate/Construction
William Dore $1M Energy
Whiteco Industries $1M Real Estate/Construction
F8 LLC (Jeremy Blickenstaff) $1M Finance/Investment
Eli Publishing (Steve Lund) $1M Cosmetics
These donations went to Super PACs backing GOP hopefuls Newt Gingrich (Winning Our Future), Ron Paul (Endorse Liberty), Mitt Romney (Restore Our Future), Rick Santorum (Red, White & Blue), backing former candidates Jon Huntsman Jr. (Our Destiny), Rick Perry (Make Us Great Again), and Republican candidates in general (American Crossroads).
To equal just their Super PAC contributions, political campaigns would need to collect more than 18,000 checks for $5,000 - the individual limit. Republican strategist Christopher LaCivita told the New York Times that these super donors are "serious business tycoons." And these serious business tycoons are seriously overwhelming the political system with their contributions.
23 February 12
Once again this week, independent-expenditure-only "Super PACs" disclosed their donors for the month of January 2012. A ThinkProgress analysis of these new filings and previously available data reveals that 19 wealthy donors have already given a million dollars or more each, combining to funnel $46.75 million to Republican-allied Super PACs so far this cycle.
It comes as little surprise that this list is dominated by financial sector investors (8), energy and chemical producers (4), and real estate developers (3). All are white. Only one, the wife of casino tycoon Sheldon Edelson, is female. The Obama administration has backed financial sector consumer protections and environmental regulations unpopular with big Wall Street and big energy.
The 19 donors’ contributions accounted for about 53 percent of the $88.2 million combined receipts for those committees. Here are the 19:
Donor Donations Sector
Harold Simmons/Contran Corp. $14.1M Chemicals
Sheldon Adelson $5M Casinos and hotels
Miriam Adelson $5M Casinos and hotels
Bob Perry $3.5M Real Estate/Construction
Peter Thiel $2.6M Finance/Investment
Jon Huntsman Sr. $2.2M Chemicals
Jerry Perenchio Living Trust $2M Media
Julian Robertson $1.25M Finance/Investment
Robert B. Rowling $1.1M Energy
Edward Conard $1M Finance/Investment
Robert Mercer $1M Finance/Investment
John Paulson $1M Finance/Investment
Paul Singer $1M Finance/Investment
Foster Friess $1M Finance/Investment
Rooney Holdings Inc. $1M Real Estate/Construction
William Dore $1M Energy
Whiteco Industries $1M Real Estate/Construction
F8 LLC (Jeremy Blickenstaff) $1M Finance/Investment
Eli Publishing (Steve Lund) $1M Cosmetics
These donations went to Super PACs backing GOP hopefuls Newt Gingrich (Winning Our Future), Ron Paul (Endorse Liberty), Mitt Romney (Restore Our Future), Rick Santorum (Red, White & Blue), backing former candidates Jon Huntsman Jr. (Our Destiny), Rick Perry (Make Us Great Again), and Republican candidates in general (American Crossroads).
To equal just their Super PAC contributions, political campaigns would need to collect more than 18,000 checks for $5,000 - the individual limit. Republican strategist Christopher LaCivita told the New York Times that these super donors are "serious business tycoons." And these serious business tycoons are seriously overwhelming the political system with their contributions.
Monday, February 6, 2012
DETENTION OF U.S. PERSONS: WHAT IS THE EXISTING LAW?
SECRECY NEWS
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
Volume 2012, Issue No. 10
February 6, 2012
Secrecy News Blog: http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
** DETENTION OF U.S. PERSONS: WHAT IS THE EXISTING LAW?
** MILITARY INTELLIGENCE PROFESSIONAL BULLETIN ONLINE
DETENTION OF U.S. PERSONS: WHAT IS THE EXISTING LAW?
When Congress passed the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, it
included provisions that authorized U.S. armed forces to detain persons who
are captured in the conflict with al-Qaeda, the Taliban, or associated
forces. However, Congress also said that those provisions did not provide
any new authority to detain U.S. citizens or others who may be captured in
the United States.
"Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect existing law or
authority relating to the detention of United States citizens...," section
1021(e) of the Act states. "We are simply codifying existing law," said
Sen. Carl Levin, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the time.
But this was an evasion, since existing law regarding the detention of
U.S. persons is indeterminate in important respects.
A new report from the Congressional Research Service fleshes out the law
of detention, identifying what is known to be true as well as what is
unsettled and unresolved.
It is perfectly clear, for example, that a U.S. citizen who fought
alongside enemy forces against the United States on a foreign battlefield
could be lawfully detained. This was affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in
the case Hamdi v. Rumsfeld.
On the other hand, the CRS report explains, "the President's legal
authority to militarily detain terrorist suspects apprehended in the United
States has not been definitively settled."
Nor has Congress helped to settle it. "This bill does not endorse either
side's interpretation," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein on December 1 about the
defense authorization act, "but leaves it to the courts to decide."
So if a detention of a U.S. person does occur, the CRS said, "it will be
up to a court to determine Congress's intent when it enacted the AUMF [the
2001 Authorization to Use Military Force], or alternatively, to decide
whether the law as it was subsequently developed by the courts and
executive branch sufficiently established that authority for such detention
already exists."
Up to now, "Lower courts that have addressed questions the Supreme Court
left unanswered have not achieved a consensus on the extent to which
Congress has authorized the detention without trial of U.S. persons as
'enemy combatants,' and Congress has not so far clarified its intent."
The new CRS report traces the development of U.S. detention policy from
the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 through the Civil War, the two World
Wars, and the Cold War up to the present day. See "Detention of U.S.
Persons as Enemy Belligerents" by CRS legislative attorney Jennifer K.
Elsea, February 1, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R42337.pdf
Some other new (or newly updated) CRS reports obtained by Secrecy News
that have not been made readily available to the public include the
following.
"Terrorist Watch List Screening and Brady Background Checks for Firearms,"
February 1, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/R42336.pdf
"War Powers Resolution: Presidential Compliance," February 1, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL33532.pdf
"The U.S. Postal Service's Financial Condition: Overview and Issues for
Congress," January 27, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41024.pdf
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE PROFESSIONAL BULLETIN ONLINE
The Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin is a quarterly journal
published by the U.S. Army to promote awareness and discussion of current
topics in military intelligence. Although unclassified, the Bulletin is
not made available online by the Army. Recent volumes can be found,
however, on the Federation of American Scientists website.
http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/army/mipb/index.html
The two latest issues are devoted to "Intelligence in the Current
Environment" (April-June 2011) and "Enabling Intelligence Analysis"
(July-September 2011).
_______________________________________________
Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the
Federation of American Scientists.
The Secrecy News Blog is at:
http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
To SUBSCRIBE to Secrecy News, go to:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/subscribe.html
To UNSUBSCRIBE, go to
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/unsubscribe.html
OR email your request to saftergood@fas.org
Secrecy News is archived at:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/index.html
Support the FAS Project on Government Secrecy with a donation:
http://www.fas.org/member/donate_today.html
_______________________
Steven Aftergood
Project on Government Secrecy
Federation of American Scientists
web: www.fas.org/sgp/index.html
email: saftergood@fas.org
voice: (202) 454-4691
twitter: @saftergood
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
Volume 2012, Issue No. 10
February 6, 2012
Secrecy News Blog: http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
** DETENTION OF U.S. PERSONS: WHAT IS THE EXISTING LAW?
** MILITARY INTELLIGENCE PROFESSIONAL BULLETIN ONLINE
DETENTION OF U.S. PERSONS: WHAT IS THE EXISTING LAW?
When Congress passed the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, it
included provisions that authorized U.S. armed forces to detain persons who
are captured in the conflict with al-Qaeda, the Taliban, or associated
forces. However, Congress also said that those provisions did not provide
any new authority to detain U.S. citizens or others who may be captured in
the United States.
"Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect existing law or
authority relating to the detention of United States citizens...," section
1021(e) of the Act states. "We are simply codifying existing law," said
Sen. Carl Levin, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the time.
But this was an evasion, since existing law regarding the detention of
U.S. persons is indeterminate in important respects.
A new report from the Congressional Research Service fleshes out the law
of detention, identifying what is known to be true as well as what is
unsettled and unresolved.
It is perfectly clear, for example, that a U.S. citizen who fought
alongside enemy forces against the United States on a foreign battlefield
could be lawfully detained. This was affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in
the case Hamdi v. Rumsfeld.
On the other hand, the CRS report explains, "the President's legal
authority to militarily detain terrorist suspects apprehended in the United
States has not been definitively settled."
Nor has Congress helped to settle it. "This bill does not endorse either
side's interpretation," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein on December 1 about the
defense authorization act, "but leaves it to the courts to decide."
So if a detention of a U.S. person does occur, the CRS said, "it will be
up to a court to determine Congress's intent when it enacted the AUMF [the
2001 Authorization to Use Military Force], or alternatively, to decide
whether the law as it was subsequently developed by the courts and
executive branch sufficiently established that authority for such detention
already exists."
Up to now, "Lower courts that have addressed questions the Supreme Court
left unanswered have not achieved a consensus on the extent to which
Congress has authorized the detention without trial of U.S. persons as
'enemy combatants,' and Congress has not so far clarified its intent."
The new CRS report traces the development of U.S. detention policy from
the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 through the Civil War, the two World
Wars, and the Cold War up to the present day. See "Detention of U.S.
Persons as Enemy Belligerents" by CRS legislative attorney Jennifer K.
Elsea, February 1, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R42337.pdf
Some other new (or newly updated) CRS reports obtained by Secrecy News
that have not been made readily available to the public include the
following.
"Terrorist Watch List Screening and Brady Background Checks for Firearms,"
February 1, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/R42336.pdf
"War Powers Resolution: Presidential Compliance," February 1, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL33532.pdf
"The U.S. Postal Service's Financial Condition: Overview and Issues for
Congress," January 27, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41024.pdf
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE PROFESSIONAL BULLETIN ONLINE
The Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin is a quarterly journal
published by the U.S. Army to promote awareness and discussion of current
topics in military intelligence. Although unclassified, the Bulletin is
not made available online by the Army. Recent volumes can be found,
however, on the Federation of American Scientists website.
http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/army/mipb/index.html
The two latest issues are devoted to "Intelligence in the Current
Environment" (April-June 2011) and "Enabling Intelligence Analysis"
(July-September 2011).
_______________________________________________
Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the
Federation of American Scientists.
The Secrecy News Blog is at:
http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
To SUBSCRIBE to Secrecy News, go to:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/subscribe.html
To UNSUBSCRIBE, go to
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/unsubscribe.html
OR email your request to saftergood@fas.org
Secrecy News is archived at:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/index.html
Support the FAS Project on Government Secrecy with a donation:
http://www.fas.org/member/donate_today.html
_______________________
Steven Aftergood
Project on Government Secrecy
Federation of American Scientists
web: www.fas.org/sgp/index.html
email: saftergood@fas.org
voice: (202) 454-4691
twitter: @saftergood
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
SECRECY NEWS
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
Volume 2012, Issue No. 5
January 23, 2012
Secrecy News Blog: http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
** COURT SAYS REVIEW OF SECURITY CLEARANCE DISPUTE IS "PROHIBITED"
** AFGHANISTAN CASUALTIES, AND MORE FROM CRS
** DOD SUPPORT TO FOREIGN DISASTER RELIEF
** INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT TO MILITARY OPERATIONS
COURT SAYS REVIEW OF SECURITY CLEARANCE DISPUTE IS "PROHIBITED"
A government agency's decision to revoke an employee's security clearance
cannot be reviewed by a federal court even if the decision is based on
ethnic discrimination or religious prejudice or other unconstitutional
grounds, a court said last week.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/jud/hegab-opinion.pdf
Judge James C. Cacheris of the Eastern District of Virginia dismissed a
lawsuit brought by Mahmoud M. Hegab, a budget analyst at the National
Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Mr. Hegab alleged that his security
clearance had been revoked by NGA "based solely on [his] wife's religion,
Islam, her constitutionally protected speech, and her association with, and
employment by, an Islamic faith-based organization." ("Clearance Lost Due
to Anti-Islamic Prejudice, Lawsuit Says," Secrecy News, October 6, 2011)
http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2011/10/clearance_lawsuit.html
The NGA disputed the claim and moved to dismiss the lawsuit.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/jud/hegab-mtdmemo11.pdf
Mr. Hegab, represented by attorney Sheldon I. Cohen, responded in
opposition on December 14.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/jud/hegab-opp15.pdf
But in his January 19 opinion, Judge Cacheris said that it didn't matter
even if the plaintiff's allegations were true, because the court lacked the
authority to review the underlying bases of the dispute.
"A determination of whether Hegab’s security clearance was revoked due
to legitimate national security concerns or, as Hegab alleges,
constitutionally impermissible bases would necessarily require a review of
the merits of NGA’s decision. Absent clear congressional directive, which
Hegab fails to identify, such a review is flatly prohibited by Egan and
Fourth Circuit precedent," Judge Cacheris wrote.
"Egan" here refers to the 1988 U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of
Department of the Navy v. Egan, which has often been invoked in support of
broad and unreviewable executive branch authority in national security
policy.
A critique of Egan and its subsequent application was presented by
constitutional scholar Louis Fisher, then of the Law Library of Congress,
in "Judicial Interpretations of Egan," November 13, 2009.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/eprint/egan.pdf
AFGHANISTAN CASUALTIES, AND MORE FROM CRS
New or updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that have
not been made readily available to the public include the following.
"Afghanistan Casualties: Military Forces and Civilians," January 18, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R41084.pdf
"FY2012 National Defense Authorization Act: Selected Military Personnel
Policy Issues," January 5, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R41874.pdf
"Spectrum Policy in the Age of Broadband: Issues for Congress," January 5,
2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40674.pdf
"The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Terrorism Investigations,"
December 28, 2011:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/R41780.pdf
"Economic Downturns and Crime," December 19, 2011:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40726.pdf
DOD SUPPORT TO FOREIGN DISASTER RELIEF
The Department of Defense has prepared a guide for military personnel who
are engaged in foreign disaster relief operations, an endeavor which arises
with some frequency.
"The U.S. Government (USG) responds to approximately 70-80 natural
disasters across the globe each year. In approximately 10-15 percent of
these disaster responses, the Department of Defense (DoD) lends support to
the overall USG effort."
"DoD disaster assistance can range from a single aircraft delivering
relief supplies, to a fullscale deployment of a brigade-size or larger task
force. Though the overall percentage of disasters requiring DoD support is
relatively small, these disasters tend to be crises of the largest
magnitude and/or the greatest complexity."
The new guide "offers an overarching guide and reference for military
responders in disaster relief operations." See "Department of Defense
Support to Foreign Disaster Relief," GTA-90-01-030, 13 July 2011 (large
pdf):
http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/dod/disaster.pdf
INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT TO MILITARY OPERATIONS
The Joint Chiefs of Staff have produced updated doctrine on intelligence
support to military operations. The new doctrine reflects changes in
intelligence organizations, roles and missions.
Among other things, the new publication introduces the term
"biometric-enabled intelligence" or BEI. "BEI is derived from the
collection, processing, and exploitation of biometric signatures; the
contextual data associated with those signatures; and other available
information that answers a commander's or other decision maker's
information needs concerning persons, networks, or populations of
interest."
See Joint Publication 2-01, "Joint and National Intelligence Support to
Military Operations," 05 January 2012:
http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/dod/jp2_01.pdf
_______________________________________________
Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the
Federation of American Scientists.
The Secrecy News Blog is at:
http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
To SUBSCRIBE to Secrecy News, go to:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/subscribe.html
To UNSUBSCRIBE, go to
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/unsubscribe.html
OR email your request to saftergood@fas.org
Secrecy News is archived at:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/index.html
Support the FAS Project on Government Secrecy with a donation:
http://www.fas.org/member/donate_today.html
_______________________
Steven Aftergood
Project on Government Secrecy
Federation of American Scientists
web: www.fas.org/sgp/index.html
email: saftergood@fas.org
voice: (202) 454-4691
twitter: @saftergood
Volume 2012, Issue No. 5
January 23, 2012
Secrecy News Blog: http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
** COURT SAYS REVIEW OF SECURITY CLEARANCE DISPUTE IS "PROHIBITED"
** AFGHANISTAN CASUALTIES, AND MORE FROM CRS
** DOD SUPPORT TO FOREIGN DISASTER RELIEF
** INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT TO MILITARY OPERATIONS
COURT SAYS REVIEW OF SECURITY CLEARANCE DISPUTE IS "PROHIBITED"
A government agency's decision to revoke an employee's security clearance
cannot be reviewed by a federal court even if the decision is based on
ethnic discrimination or religious prejudice or other unconstitutional
grounds, a court said last week.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/jud/hegab-opinion.pdf
Judge James C. Cacheris of the Eastern District of Virginia dismissed a
lawsuit brought by Mahmoud M. Hegab, a budget analyst at the National
Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Mr. Hegab alleged that his security
clearance had been revoked by NGA "based solely on [his] wife's religion,
Islam, her constitutionally protected speech, and her association with, and
employment by, an Islamic faith-based organization." ("Clearance Lost Due
to Anti-Islamic Prejudice, Lawsuit Says," Secrecy News, October 6, 2011)
http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2011/10/clearance_lawsuit.html
The NGA disputed the claim and moved to dismiss the lawsuit.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/jud/hegab-mtdmemo11.pdf
Mr. Hegab, represented by attorney Sheldon I. Cohen, responded in
opposition on December 14.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/jud/hegab-opp15.pdf
But in his January 19 opinion, Judge Cacheris said that it didn't matter
even if the plaintiff's allegations were true, because the court lacked the
authority to review the underlying bases of the dispute.
"A determination of whether Hegab’s security clearance was revoked due
to legitimate national security concerns or, as Hegab alleges,
constitutionally impermissible bases would necessarily require a review of
the merits of NGA’s decision. Absent clear congressional directive, which
Hegab fails to identify, such a review is flatly prohibited by Egan and
Fourth Circuit precedent," Judge Cacheris wrote.
"Egan" here refers to the 1988 U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of
Department of the Navy v. Egan, which has often been invoked in support of
broad and unreviewable executive branch authority in national security
policy.
A critique of Egan and its subsequent application was presented by
constitutional scholar Louis Fisher, then of the Law Library of Congress,
in "Judicial Interpretations of Egan," November 13, 2009.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/eprint/egan.pdf
AFGHANISTAN CASUALTIES, AND MORE FROM CRS
New or updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that have
not been made readily available to the public include the following.
"Afghanistan Casualties: Military Forces and Civilians," January 18, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R41084.pdf
"FY2012 National Defense Authorization Act: Selected Military Personnel
Policy Issues," January 5, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R41874.pdf
"Spectrum Policy in the Age of Broadband: Issues for Congress," January 5,
2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40674.pdf
"The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Terrorism Investigations,"
December 28, 2011:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/R41780.pdf
"Economic Downturns and Crime," December 19, 2011:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40726.pdf
DOD SUPPORT TO FOREIGN DISASTER RELIEF
The Department of Defense has prepared a guide for military personnel who
are engaged in foreign disaster relief operations, an endeavor which arises
with some frequency.
"The U.S. Government (USG) responds to approximately 70-80 natural
disasters across the globe each year. In approximately 10-15 percent of
these disaster responses, the Department of Defense (DoD) lends support to
the overall USG effort."
"DoD disaster assistance can range from a single aircraft delivering
relief supplies, to a fullscale deployment of a brigade-size or larger task
force. Though the overall percentage of disasters requiring DoD support is
relatively small, these disasters tend to be crises of the largest
magnitude and/or the greatest complexity."
The new guide "offers an overarching guide and reference for military
responders in disaster relief operations." See "Department of Defense
Support to Foreign Disaster Relief," GTA-90-01-030, 13 July 2011 (large
pdf):
http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/dod/disaster.pdf
INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT TO MILITARY OPERATIONS
The Joint Chiefs of Staff have produced updated doctrine on intelligence
support to military operations. The new doctrine reflects changes in
intelligence organizations, roles and missions.
Among other things, the new publication introduces the term
"biometric-enabled intelligence" or BEI. "BEI is derived from the
collection, processing, and exploitation of biometric signatures; the
contextual data associated with those signatures; and other available
information that answers a commander's or other decision maker's
information needs concerning persons, networks, or populations of
interest."
See Joint Publication 2-01, "Joint and National Intelligence Support to
Military Operations," 05 January 2012:
http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/dod/jp2_01.pdf
_______________________________________________
Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the
Federation of American Scientists.
The Secrecy News Blog is at:
http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
To SUBSCRIBE to Secrecy News, go to:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/subscribe.html
To UNSUBSCRIBE, go to
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/unsubscribe.html
OR email your request to saftergood@fas.org
Secrecy News is archived at:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/index.html
Support the FAS Project on Government Secrecy with a donation:
http://www.fas.org/member/donate_today.html
_______________________
Steven Aftergood
Project on Government Secrecy
Federation of American Scientists
web: www.fas.org/sgp/index.html
email: saftergood@fas.org
voice: (202) 454-4691
twitter: @saftergood
Thursday, January 19, 2012
SECRECY NEWS
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
Volume 2012, Issue No. 4
January 19, 2012
Secrecy News Blog: http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
** ARMY FORESEES EXPANDED USE OF DRONES IN U.S. AIRSPACE
** FOREIGN MILITARY ASSISTANCE, AND MORE FROM CRS
ARMY FORESEES EXPANDED USE OF DRONES IN U.S. AIRSPACE
The Army issued a new directive last week to govern the growing use of
unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or "drones" within the United States for
training missions and for "domestic operations."
"The Army's unmanned aircraft systems represent emerging technology that
requires access to the National Airspace System," wrote Army Secretary John
M. McHugh in a January 13 memorandum.
Towards that end, the Army produced a revised policy on UAS operations to
support "expanded UAS access to the National Airspace System." A copy of
the new policy was obtained by Secrecy News. See Army Directive 2012-02,
January 13, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/ad2012_02.pdf
Much of the Army's UAS activity will be devoted to UAS operator training
conducted at or near military facilities, the policy indicates. But beyond
such training activities, the military also envisions a role for UAS in
unspecified "domestic operations" in civilian airspace, according to a 2007
Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of Defense and the Federal
Aviation Administration, which regulates domestic air traffic.
The 2007 Memorandum, which is appended to the new Army directive, was said
to "allow, in accordance with applicable law, increased access for DoD UAS
into the elements of the NAS [National Airspace System] outside of
DoD-managed Restricted Areas or Warning Areas."
The 2007 agreement was intended to "ensure DoD UAS assets have NAS access
for domestic operations, including the War on Terror (WOT).... This
guidance applies to all DoD UAS, whether operated by Active, Reserve,
National Guard, or other personnel."
A prior edition of the Army's "Unmanned Aircraft System Flight
Regulations," which will be updated to incorporate the latest policy, can
be found on the Federation of American Scientists web site here:
http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/ar95-23.pdf
The Electronic Frontier Foundation last week filed a Freedom of
Information Act lawsuit seeking information on domestic drone operations.
https://www.eff.org/press/releases/who-flying-unmanned-aircraft-us
FOREIGN MILITARY ASSISTANCE, AND MORE FROM CRS
Some new or updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that
have not been made readily available to the public include the following.
"Security Assistance Reform: 'Section 1206' Background and Issues for
Congress," January 13, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RS22855.pdf
"The Berry Amendment: Requiring Defense Procurement To Come From Domestic
Sources," January 13, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL31236.pdf
"In Brief: Assessing DOD's New Strategic Guidance," January 12, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R42146.pdf
"Circular A-76 and the Moratorium on DOD Competitions: Background and
Issues for Congress," January 17, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40854.pdf
"The Federal Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development Program: Background, Funding and Activities," January 13, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33586.pdf
"Nuclear Power Plant Design and Seismic Safety Considerations," January
12, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41805.pdf
"Chemical Facility Security: Issues and Options for the 112th Congress,"
January 13, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R41642.pdf
_______________________________________________
Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the
Federation of American Scientists.
The Secrecy News Blog is at:
http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
To SUBSCRIBE to Secrecy News, go to:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/subscribe.html
To UNSUBSCRIBE, go to
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/unsubscribe.html
OR email your request to saftergood@fas.org
Secrecy News is archived at:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/index.html
Support the FAS Project on Government Secrecy with a donation:
http://www.fas.org/member/donate_today.html
_______________________
Steven Aftergood
Project on Government Secrecy
Federation of American Scientists
web: www.fas.org/sgp/index.html
email: saftergood@fas.org
voice: (202) 454-4691
twitter: @saftergood
Volume 2012, Issue No. 4
January 19, 2012
Secrecy News Blog: http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
** ARMY FORESEES EXPANDED USE OF DRONES IN U.S. AIRSPACE
** FOREIGN MILITARY ASSISTANCE, AND MORE FROM CRS
ARMY FORESEES EXPANDED USE OF DRONES IN U.S. AIRSPACE
The Army issued a new directive last week to govern the growing use of
unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or "drones" within the United States for
training missions and for "domestic operations."
"The Army's unmanned aircraft systems represent emerging technology that
requires access to the National Airspace System," wrote Army Secretary John
M. McHugh in a January 13 memorandum.
Towards that end, the Army produced a revised policy on UAS operations to
support "expanded UAS access to the National Airspace System." A copy of
the new policy was obtained by Secrecy News. See Army Directive 2012-02,
January 13, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/ad2012_02.pdf
Much of the Army's UAS activity will be devoted to UAS operator training
conducted at or near military facilities, the policy indicates. But beyond
such training activities, the military also envisions a role for UAS in
unspecified "domestic operations" in civilian airspace, according to a 2007
Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of Defense and the Federal
Aviation Administration, which regulates domestic air traffic.
The 2007 Memorandum, which is appended to the new Army directive, was said
to "allow, in accordance with applicable law, increased access for DoD UAS
into the elements of the NAS [National Airspace System] outside of
DoD-managed Restricted Areas or Warning Areas."
The 2007 agreement was intended to "ensure DoD UAS assets have NAS access
for domestic operations, including the War on Terror (WOT).... This
guidance applies to all DoD UAS, whether operated by Active, Reserve,
National Guard, or other personnel."
A prior edition of the Army's "Unmanned Aircraft System Flight
Regulations," which will be updated to incorporate the latest policy, can
be found on the Federation of American Scientists web site here:
http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/ar95-23.pdf
The Electronic Frontier Foundation last week filed a Freedom of
Information Act lawsuit seeking information on domestic drone operations.
https://www.eff.org/press/releases/who-flying-unmanned-aircraft-us
FOREIGN MILITARY ASSISTANCE, AND MORE FROM CRS
Some new or updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that
have not been made readily available to the public include the following.
"Security Assistance Reform: 'Section 1206' Background and Issues for
Congress," January 13, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RS22855.pdf
"The Berry Amendment: Requiring Defense Procurement To Come From Domestic
Sources," January 13, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL31236.pdf
"In Brief: Assessing DOD's New Strategic Guidance," January 12, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R42146.pdf
"Circular A-76 and the Moratorium on DOD Competitions: Background and
Issues for Congress," January 17, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40854.pdf
"The Federal Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development Program: Background, Funding and Activities," January 13, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33586.pdf
"Nuclear Power Plant Design and Seismic Safety Considerations," January
12, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41805.pdf
"Chemical Facility Security: Issues and Options for the 112th Congress,"
January 13, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R41642.pdf
_______________________________________________
Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the
Federation of American Scientists.
The Secrecy News Blog is at:
http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
To SUBSCRIBE to Secrecy News, go to:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/subscribe.html
To UNSUBSCRIBE, go to
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/unsubscribe.html
OR email your request to saftergood@fas.org
Secrecy News is archived at:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/index.html
Support the FAS Project on Government Secrecy with a donation:
http://www.fas.org/member/donate_today.html
_______________________
Steven Aftergood
Project on Government Secrecy
Federation of American Scientists
web: www.fas.org/sgp/index.html
email: saftergood@fas.org
voice: (202) 454-4691
twitter: @saftergood
SECRECY NEWS
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
Volume 2012, Issue No. 4
January 19, 2012
Secrecy News Blog: http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
** ARMY FORESEES EXPANDED USE OF DRONES IN U.S. AIRSPACE
** FOREIGN MILITARY ASSISTANCE, AND MORE FROM CRS
ARMY FORESEES EXPANDED USE OF DRONES IN U.S. AIRSPACE
The Army issued a new directive last week to govern the growing use of
unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or "drones" within the United States for
training missions and for "domestic operations."
"The Army's unmanned aircraft systems represent emerging technology that
requires access to the National Airspace System," wrote Army Secretary John
M. McHugh in a January 13 memorandum.
Towards that end, the Army produced a revised policy on UAS operations to
support "expanded UAS access to the National Airspace System." A copy of
the new policy was obtained by Secrecy News. See Army Directive 2012-02,
January 13, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/ad2012_02.pdf
Much of the Army's UAS activity will be devoted to UAS operator training
conducted at or near military facilities, the policy indicates. But beyond
such training activities, the military also envisions a role for UAS in
unspecified "domestic operations" in civilian airspace, according to a 2007
Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of Defense and the Federal
Aviation Administration, which regulates domestic air traffic.
The 2007 Memorandum, which is appended to the new Army directive, was said
to "allow, in accordance with applicable law, increased access for DoD UAS
into the elements of the NAS [National Airspace System] outside of
DoD-managed Restricted Areas or Warning Areas."
The 2007 agreement was intended to "ensure DoD UAS assets have NAS access
for domestic operations, including the War on Terror (WOT).... This
guidance applies to all DoD UAS, whether operated by Active, Reserve,
National Guard, or other personnel."
A prior edition of the Army's "Unmanned Aircraft System Flight
Regulations," which will be updated to incorporate the latest policy, can
be found on the Federation of American Scientists web site here:
http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/ar95-23.pdf
The Electronic Frontier Foundation last week filed a Freedom of
Information Act lawsuit seeking information on domestic drone operations.
https://www.eff.org/press/releases/who-flying-unmanned-aircraft-us
FOREIGN MILITARY ASSISTANCE, AND MORE FROM CRS
Some new or updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that
have not been made readily available to the public include the following.
"Security Assistance Reform: 'Section 1206' Background and Issues for
Congress," January 13, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RS22855.pdf
"The Berry Amendment: Requiring Defense Procurement To Come From Domestic
Sources," January 13, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL31236.pdf
"In Brief: Assessing DOD's New Strategic Guidance," January 12, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R42146.pdf
"Circular A-76 and the Moratorium on DOD Competitions: Background and
Issues for Congress," January 17, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40854.pdf
"The Federal Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development Program: Background, Funding and Activities," January 13, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33586.pdf
"Nuclear Power Plant Design and Seismic Safety Considerations," January
12, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41805.pdf
"Chemical Facility Security: Issues and Options for the 112th Congress,"
January 13, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R41642.pdf
_______________________________________________
Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the
Federation of American Scientists.
The Secrecy News Blog is at:
http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
To SUBSCRIBE to Secrecy News, go to:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/subscribe.html
To UNSUBSCRIBE, go to
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/unsubscribe.html
OR email your request to saftergood@fas.org
Secrecy News is archived at:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/index.html
Support the FAS Project on Government Secrecy with a donation:
http://www.fas.org/member/donate_today.html
_______________________
Steven Aftergood
Project on Government Secrecy
Federation of American Scientists
web: www.fas.org/sgp/index.html
email: saftergood@fas.org
voice: (202) 454-4691
twitter: @saftergood
Volume 2012, Issue No. 4
January 19, 2012
Secrecy News Blog: http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
** ARMY FORESEES EXPANDED USE OF DRONES IN U.S. AIRSPACE
** FOREIGN MILITARY ASSISTANCE, AND MORE FROM CRS
ARMY FORESEES EXPANDED USE OF DRONES IN U.S. AIRSPACE
The Army issued a new directive last week to govern the growing use of
unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or "drones" within the United States for
training missions and for "domestic operations."
"The Army's unmanned aircraft systems represent emerging technology that
requires access to the National Airspace System," wrote Army Secretary John
M. McHugh in a January 13 memorandum.
Towards that end, the Army produced a revised policy on UAS operations to
support "expanded UAS access to the National Airspace System." A copy of
the new policy was obtained by Secrecy News. See Army Directive 2012-02,
January 13, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/ad2012_02.pdf
Much of the Army's UAS activity will be devoted to UAS operator training
conducted at or near military facilities, the policy indicates. But beyond
such training activities, the military also envisions a role for UAS in
unspecified "domestic operations" in civilian airspace, according to a 2007
Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of Defense and the Federal
Aviation Administration, which regulates domestic air traffic.
The 2007 Memorandum, which is appended to the new Army directive, was said
to "allow, in accordance with applicable law, increased access for DoD UAS
into the elements of the NAS [National Airspace System] outside of
DoD-managed Restricted Areas or Warning Areas."
The 2007 agreement was intended to "ensure DoD UAS assets have NAS access
for domestic operations, including the War on Terror (WOT).... This
guidance applies to all DoD UAS, whether operated by Active, Reserve,
National Guard, or other personnel."
A prior edition of the Army's "Unmanned Aircraft System Flight
Regulations," which will be updated to incorporate the latest policy, can
be found on the Federation of American Scientists web site here:
http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/ar95-23.pdf
The Electronic Frontier Foundation last week filed a Freedom of
Information Act lawsuit seeking information on domestic drone operations.
https://www.eff.org/press/releases/who-flying-unmanned-aircraft-us
FOREIGN MILITARY ASSISTANCE, AND MORE FROM CRS
Some new or updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that
have not been made readily available to the public include the following.
"Security Assistance Reform: 'Section 1206' Background and Issues for
Congress," January 13, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RS22855.pdf
"The Berry Amendment: Requiring Defense Procurement To Come From Domestic
Sources," January 13, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL31236.pdf
"In Brief: Assessing DOD's New Strategic Guidance," January 12, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R42146.pdf
"Circular A-76 and the Moratorium on DOD Competitions: Background and
Issues for Congress," January 17, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40854.pdf
"The Federal Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development Program: Background, Funding and Activities," January 13, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33586.pdf
"Nuclear Power Plant Design and Seismic Safety Considerations," January
12, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41805.pdf
"Chemical Facility Security: Issues and Options for the 112th Congress,"
January 13, 2012:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R41642.pdf
_______________________________________________
Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the
Federation of American Scientists.
The Secrecy News Blog is at:
http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
To SUBSCRIBE to Secrecy News, go to:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/subscribe.html
To UNSUBSCRIBE, go to
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/unsubscribe.html
OR email your request to saftergood@fas.org
Secrecy News is archived at:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/index.html
Support the FAS Project on Government Secrecy with a donation:
http://www.fas.org/member/donate_today.html
_______________________
Steven Aftergood
Project on Government Secrecy
Federation of American Scientists
web: www.fas.org/sgp/index.html
email: saftergood@fas.org
voice: (202) 454-4691
twitter: @saftergood
Friday, January 13, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Friday, December 23, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
SECRECY NEWS
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
Volume 2011, Issue No. 114
December 12, 2011
Secrecy News Blog: http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
** CHARTER OF OPEN SOURCE ORG IS CLASSIFIED, CIA SAYS
** A SURVEY OF FEDERAL LAWS RELATED TO CYBERSECURITY
CHARTER OF OPEN SOURCE ORG IS CLASSIFIED, CIA SAYS
Open Source Works, which is the CIA's in-house open source analysis
component, is devoted to intelligence analysis of unclassified, open source
information. Oddly, however, the directive that established Open Source
Works is classified, as is the charter of the organization. In fact, CIA
says the very existence of any such records is a classified fact.
"The CIA can neither confirm nor deny the existence or nonexistence of
records responsive to your request," wrote Susan Viscuso, CIA Information
and Privacy Coordinator, in a November 29 response to a Freedom of
Information Act request from Jeffrey Richelson of the National Security
Archive for the Open Source Works directive and charter.
"The fact of the existence or nonexistence of requested records is
currently and properly classified and is intelligence sources and methods
information that is protected from disclosure," Dr. Viscuso wrote.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/2011/11/cia-osw.pdf
This is a surprising development since Open Source Works -- by definition
-- does not engage in clandestine collection of intelligence. Rather, it
performs analysis based on unclassified, open source materials.
Thus, according to a November 2010 CIA report, Open Source Works "was
charged by the [CIA] Director for Intelligence with drawing on
language-trained analysts to mine open-source information for new or
alternative insights on intelligence issues. Open Source Works' products,
based only on open source information, do not represent the coordinated
views of the Central Intelligence Agency."
http://www.fas.org/irp/cia/product/iran-space.pdf
As such, there is no basis for treating Open Source Works as a covert,
unacknowledged intelligence organization. It isn't one.
Even if Open Source Works were engaged in classified intelligence
analysis, the idea that its charter must necessarily be classified is a
non-sequitur. Illustrating the contrary proposition, the Department of
Defense last week issued a new Instruction on "Geospatial Intelligence
(GEOINT)," setting forth the policies governing that largely classified
intelligence domain:
http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/dod/i3115_15.pdf
Beyond that, it is an interesting question "why the CIA felt the need to
establish such a unit given the existence of the DNI Open Source Center,"
said Dr. Richelson. The Open Source Center, the successor to the Foreign
Broadcast Information Service, is the U.S. Government's principal open
source agency. It is, naturally, a publicly acknowledged organization.
"An even more interesting question," he added, is "why would the CIA,
whose DI [Directorate of Intelligence] organization structure is published
on its website, feel it necessary to refuse to confirm or deny the
existence of this new open source component?"
The CIA's extreme approach to classification policy is timely in one
sense: It provides a convenient benchmark for evaluating current progress
in combating overclassification.
If the charter of CIA's Open Source Works remains classified six months
from now, when the Obama Administration's Fundamental Classification
Guidance Review will have completed its first cycle, that will be a
decisive indication that the Review failed to eliminate even the most
blatant examples of overclassification.
A SURVEY OF FEDERAL LAWS RELATED TO CYBERSECURITY
There are more than 50 federal statutes that pertain to some aspect of
cybersecurity, according to the Congressional Research Service. Those
statutes, and the potential impact on them of several pending legislative
proposals, are described in a new CRS report. See "Federal Laws Relating
to Cybersecurity: Discussion of Proposed Revisions," December 7, 2011:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R42114.pdf
_______________________________________________
Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the
Federation of American Scientists.
The Secrecy News Blog is at:
http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
To SUBSCRIBE to Secrecy News, go to:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/subscribe.html
To UNSUBSCRIBE, go to
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/unsubscribe.html
OR email your request to saftergood@fas.org
Secrecy News is archived at:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/index.html
Support the FAS Project on Government Secrecy with a donation:
http://www.fas.org/member/donate_today.html
_______________________
Steven Aftergood
Project on Government Secrecy
Federation of American Scientists
web: www.fas.org/sgp/index.html
email: saftergood@fas.org
voice: (202) 454-4691
twitter: @saftergood
Volume 2011, Issue No. 114
December 12, 2011
Secrecy News Blog: http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
** CHARTER OF OPEN SOURCE ORG IS CLASSIFIED, CIA SAYS
** A SURVEY OF FEDERAL LAWS RELATED TO CYBERSECURITY
CHARTER OF OPEN SOURCE ORG IS CLASSIFIED, CIA SAYS
Open Source Works, which is the CIA's in-house open source analysis
component, is devoted to intelligence analysis of unclassified, open source
information. Oddly, however, the directive that established Open Source
Works is classified, as is the charter of the organization. In fact, CIA
says the very existence of any such records is a classified fact.
"The CIA can neither confirm nor deny the existence or nonexistence of
records responsive to your request," wrote Susan Viscuso, CIA Information
and Privacy Coordinator, in a November 29 response to a Freedom of
Information Act request from Jeffrey Richelson of the National Security
Archive for the Open Source Works directive and charter.
"The fact of the existence or nonexistence of requested records is
currently and properly classified and is intelligence sources and methods
information that is protected from disclosure," Dr. Viscuso wrote.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/2011/11/cia-osw.pdf
This is a surprising development since Open Source Works -- by definition
-- does not engage in clandestine collection of intelligence. Rather, it
performs analysis based on unclassified, open source materials.
Thus, according to a November 2010 CIA report, Open Source Works "was
charged by the [CIA] Director for Intelligence with drawing on
language-trained analysts to mine open-source information for new or
alternative insights on intelligence issues. Open Source Works' products,
based only on open source information, do not represent the coordinated
views of the Central Intelligence Agency."
http://www.fas.org/irp/cia/product/iran-space.pdf
As such, there is no basis for treating Open Source Works as a covert,
unacknowledged intelligence organization. It isn't one.
Even if Open Source Works were engaged in classified intelligence
analysis, the idea that its charter must necessarily be classified is a
non-sequitur. Illustrating the contrary proposition, the Department of
Defense last week issued a new Instruction on "Geospatial Intelligence
(GEOINT)," setting forth the policies governing that largely classified
intelligence domain:
http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/dod/i3115_15.pdf
Beyond that, it is an interesting question "why the CIA felt the need to
establish such a unit given the existence of the DNI Open Source Center,"
said Dr. Richelson. The Open Source Center, the successor to the Foreign
Broadcast Information Service, is the U.S. Government's principal open
source agency. It is, naturally, a publicly acknowledged organization.
"An even more interesting question," he added, is "why would the CIA,
whose DI [Directorate of Intelligence] organization structure is published
on its website, feel it necessary to refuse to confirm or deny the
existence of this new open source component?"
The CIA's extreme approach to classification policy is timely in one
sense: It provides a convenient benchmark for evaluating current progress
in combating overclassification.
If the charter of CIA's Open Source Works remains classified six months
from now, when the Obama Administration's Fundamental Classification
Guidance Review will have completed its first cycle, that will be a
decisive indication that the Review failed to eliminate even the most
blatant examples of overclassification.
A SURVEY OF FEDERAL LAWS RELATED TO CYBERSECURITY
There are more than 50 federal statutes that pertain to some aspect of
cybersecurity, according to the Congressional Research Service. Those
statutes, and the potential impact on them of several pending legislative
proposals, are described in a new CRS report. See "Federal Laws Relating
to Cybersecurity: Discussion of Proposed Revisions," December 7, 2011:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R42114.pdf
_______________________________________________
Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the
Federation of American Scientists.
The Secrecy News Blog is at:
http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
To SUBSCRIBE to Secrecy News, go to:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/subscribe.html
To UNSUBSCRIBE, go to
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/unsubscribe.html
OR email your request to saftergood@fas.org
Secrecy News is archived at:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/index.html
Support the FAS Project on Government Secrecy with a donation:
http://www.fas.org/member/donate_today.html
_______________________
Steven Aftergood
Project on Government Secrecy
Federation of American Scientists
web: www.fas.org/sgp/index.html
email: saftergood@fas.org
voice: (202) 454-4691
twitter: @saftergood
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