|
From: Steven Aftergood <saftergood.nul> Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2007 13:10:44 -0500 Fwd Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2007 08:15:30 -0500 Subject: Secrecy News -- 02/14/07 SECRECY NEWS from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy Volume 2007, Issue No. 18 February 14, 2007 Secrecy News Blog: http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/ Support Secrecy News: http://www.fas.org/static/contrib_sec.jsp ** TEMPO OF CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT INCREASES ** COUNTERING AIR AND MISSILE THREATS TEMPO OF CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT INCREASES Though it is still too early to identify concrete results, the pace of Congressional oversight activity on secrecy and intelligence matters has already increased markedly in the new Congress. The House Intelligence Subcommittee on Intelligence Community Management said it "will monitor trends in classification of executive branch material, the costs of over-classification, the practice of selective declassification, and the exclusive reliance on a variety of 'sensitive but unclassified' designations by U.S. government agencies and departments," according to a new Committee work plan. "The Subcommittee will also examine the issue of unauthorized disclosure of classified information." See "Oversight Plan for the 110th Congress," House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, February 7: http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2007_cr/hpsci2007.pdf Rep. Henry Waxman's House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a February 13 hearing on the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act that would extend protections to whistleblowers in intelligence and national security agencies. Prepared testimony from that hearing, including several informative statements on current issues in whistleblower protection policy, may be found here: http://www.fas.org/sgp/congress/2007/index.html Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) introduced the Intelligence Community Audit Act (H.R. 978), a bill that would "reaffirm the authority of the [Government Accountability Office] to audit and evaluate the programs, activities, and financial transactions of the intelligence community." It is a companion measure to S. 82, introduced by Sen. Akaka last month. See: http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2007_cr/hr978.html Senator Christopher Dodd introduced the Restoring the Constitution Act (S. 576) that would amend the much-criticized Military Commissions Act of 2006, which curtailed habeas corpus claims by suspected enemy combatants. Co-sponsor Sen. Russ Feingold said the new bill would "restore basic due process rights and ensure that no person is subject to indefinite detention without charge based on the sole discretion of the President." See: http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2007_cr/s576.html COUNTERING AIR AND MISSILE THREATS Military doctrine on maintaining air superiority against enemy aircraft and missiles is presented in a newly updated publication from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Counterair operations include both offensive counterair (OCA) to destroy enemy aircraft, missiles or other weapons before they can be used, and defensive counterair (DCA) to detect, intercept and destroy enemy weapons in use. Military planners "should expect MANPADS [shoulder-fired missiles] and AAA [anti-aircraft artillery] coverage wherever enemy forces are encountered," the new doctrine states. Seven U.S. helicopters have been shot down in Iraq in the last month, the Associated Press noted today. See "Countering Air and Missile Threats," Joint Publication JP 3-01, February 5, 2007: http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/dod/jp3_01.pdf _______________________________________________ Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the Federation of American Scientists. To SUBSCRIBE to Secrecy News, send email to secrecy_news-request.nul with "subscribe" in the body of the message. OR email your request to saftergood.nul Secrecy News is archived at: http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/index.html Secrecy News is available in blog format at: http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/ SUPPORT Secrecy News with a donation here: http://www.fas.org/static/contrib_sec.jsp _______________________ Steven Aftergood Project on Government Secrecy Federation of American Scientists web: www.fas.org/sgp/index.html email: saftergood.nul voice: (202) 454-4691
[ Next Message | Previous Message | This Day's Messages ]
This Month's Index |
UFO UpDates - Toronto - Operated by Errol Bruce-Knapp