Category «Defense»

New GAO Reports – Combatting Nuclear Smuggling, CPSC, Ocean Acidification

COMBATING NUCLEAR SMUGGLING: Risk-Informed Covert Assessments and Oversight of Corrective Actions Could Strengthen Capabilities at the Border, GAO-14-826: Published: Sep 22, 2014. Publicly Released: Oct 14, 2014: CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION: Challenges and Options for Responding to New and Emerging Risks, GAO-15-17: Published: Oct 14, 2014. Publicly Released: Oct 14, 2014: “CPSC is responsible for ensuring the safety of thousands of …

Subjects: Climate Change, Defense, Energy, Environmental Law, Government Documents, Legal Research

Priority Agenda Enhancing the Climate Resilience of America’s Natural Resources

“The interagency Council on Climate Change Preparedness and Resilience, established by Section 6 of the Order, convened a Climate and Natural Resources Working Group (CNRWG) to complete the inventory, assessment, and plan called for in Section 3 of the Order. The CNRWG includes Departments of Defense, Interior, and Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic …

Subjects: Climate Change, Defense, Energy, Environmental Law, Government Documents

U.S. State Department Iraq-Syria Conflict Without Borders Map October 2014

Via Public Intelligence – “The following is part of a series produced by the State Department’s Humanitarian Information Unit. A map produced in late June for the same series is also available.

Subjects: Defense, Government Documents

Human Rights Protection During Armed Conflict: What, When, and for Whom?

Scobbie, Iain, Human Rights Protection During Armed Conflict: What, When, and for Whom? (October 7, 2014). Erika de Wet & Jann Kleffner (eds), Convergence and Conflicts of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law in Military Operations (Pretoria University Law Press, Pretoria) Forthcoming. Available for download at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2506793 “This essay seeks to examine some of …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Defense, Legal Research

Report claims NSA has operatives in foreign communications companies

“The National Security Agency has had agents in China, Germany, and South Korea working on programs that use “physical subversion” to infiltrate and compromise networks and devices, according to documents obtained by The Intercept. The documents, leaked by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, also indicate that the agency has used “under cover” operatives to gain access to …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Defense, E-Government, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Internet, Privacy

The Global Movement and Tracking of Chemical Manufacturing Equipment

“Dual-use applications for chemical manufacturing equipment have been recognized as a concern for many years, and export-control regulations worldwide are in place as a result. These regulations, in conjunction with the verification and inspection requirements of Article VI of the Chemical Weapons Convention, are designed to support non-proliferation of manufacturing equipment suitable for production of …

Subjects: Defense, Environmental Law, Government Documents

Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses

CRS – Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses. Kenneth Katzman, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs. October 1, 2014 “Since the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, a priority of U.S. policy has been to reduce the perceived threat posed by Iran to a broad range of U.S. interests. However, a common enemy has emerged in the form of the …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Defense, Economy, Energy, Government Documents

Department of Homeland Security Privacy Office 2014 Annual Report to Congress

“The Department of Homeland Security (DHS or Department) Privacy Office is the first statutorily created privacy office in any federal agency, as set forth in Section 222 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended. The mission of the Privacy Office is to protect all individuals by embedding and enforcing privacy protections and transparency in …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Defense, E-Government, Government Documents, Legal Research, Privacy

Retired NSA Technical Director Explains Snowden Docs

Alexa O’Brien – Based on a work at alexaobrien.com – “I had an opportunity to attend a presentation by a retired technical director at the NSA, William Binney, which provided context for some of the published documents released by former NSA contractor, Edward Snowden. Because of the public value of Binney’s expertise on the subject, I decided to publish his presentation …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Defense, E-Government, E-Mail, E-Records, Government Documents, Internet, Patriot Act, Privacy

The Islamic State through the Regional Lens

“Welcome to European Council on Foreign Relation’s new project, The Islamic State through the Regional Lens. This series examines the reaction of key Middle Eastern actors, as well as looking at European policy options, the dynamics driving IS itself, and the impact within Syria and Iraq respectively. Each of the 14 pieces presents and dissects the …

Subjects: Defense, Government Documents

A Public Accountability Defense for National Security Leakers and Whistleblowers

A Public Accountability Defense for National Security Leakers and Whistleblowers, Yochai Benkler. The Harvard Law & Policy Review, Vol 8 No 2. July 2014. “In June 2013 Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras, and Barton Gellman began to publish stories in The Guardian and The Washington Post based on arguably the most significant national security leak in American history. By leaking …

Subjects: Defense, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research

New GAO Reports – Afghanistan Equipment Drawdown, Bureau of Prisons, Elections, Unmanned Aerial Systems

AFGHANISTAN EQUIPMENT DRAWDOWN: Progress Made, but Improved Controls in Decision Making Could Reduce Risk of Unnecessary Expenditures, GAO-14-768: Published: Sep 30, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2014. BUREAU OF PRISONS: Information on Efforts and Potential Options to Save Costs, GAO-14-821: Published: Sep 30, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2014. ELECTIONS: Observations on Wait Times for Voters on Election Day 2012, GAO-14-850: Published: Sep …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Defense, E-Government, Government Documents, Privacy

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