Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the
Federation of American Scientists. Excerpts and links on ShadowMonkey.net are re-published with permission.
Presidential Secrecy and the Law
Presidential secrecy is best understood not as an expression of
executive strength but as a sign of weakness and insecurity,
according to a provocative new book on the subject.
"When the president lacks diplomatic or interpersonal skill, he
is likely to compensate by shielding his activities -- even
shielding his very self -- from the public, relying on secrecy
rather than diplomacy," write political scientists Robert M.
Pallitto and William G. Weaver in "Presidential Secrecy and the
Law."
The authors explore how the growth of executive branch secrecy
has transformed the institution of the presidency and the
character of American government.
Read the full post...
Pentagon Proposes New Access Restrictions
The Department of Defense has asked Congress to enact two
expansive new provisions in the FY 2008 defense authorization
act to help it restrict public access to information.
One of the provisions would create a new exemption to the
Freedom of Information Act for certain unclassified information
related to weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The other would
establish civil and criminal penalties for the unauthorized
publication or sale of maps and images ("geodetic products")
that the Secretary of Defense has designated for "limited
distribution."
Read the full post...
Various Resources on Intelligence and Security
Some notable new or newly-acquired publications include these:
"Physical Security Program," Department of Defense Regulation
5200.08-R, April 9, 2007 (PDF)
"National Defense Intelligence College," Department of Defense
Instruction 3305.01, December 22, 2006 (PDF)
"Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance: Preliminary
Observations on DOD's Approach to Managing Requirements for New
Systems, Existing Assets, and Systems Development," U.S.
Government Accountability Office testimony [GAO-07-596T], April
19, 2007 (PDF)
"Bioterrorism and Biocrimes: The Illicit Use of Biological
Agents Since 1900" by W. Seth Carus, August 1998 (rev. February
2001) (PDF)
AIPAC Trial Likely to be Postponed
The unprecedented trial of two former officials of the American
Israel Public Affairs Committee, who are charged under the
Espionage Act with unlawful receipt and disclosure of national
defense information, is likely to be postponed from its
scheduled start date on June 4.
The need to resolve disagreements between the parties over the
handling of classified information involved in the case will
"knock the trial date into a cocked hat," said Judge T.S.
Ellis, III at an April 19 hearing.
Read the full post...
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