National Security Archives press release: “Under pressure from a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, the Justice Department on February 10 conceded in federal court that it could begin releasing as early as March 3 the internal legal memos relied on by the Bush administration in setting up the controversial National Security Agency warrantless wiretapping program.… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: February 2006
Hearing Today on National Security Whistleblowers in the post-9/11 Era
House Committee on Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations — hearing on National Security Whistleblowers in the post-9/11 Era: Lost in a Labyrinth and Facing Subtle Retaliation, February 14, 2006. Hearing Advisory, National Security Subcommittee Briefing Memo (78 pages, PDF) Opening Statement of Chairman Shays: “Whistleblowers in critical national security… Continue Reading
Objectivity of CRS Reports on Domestic Surveillance Issues Challenged
There have been several recent congressional communications and related articles addressing whether or not authors of CRS reports on issues pertaining to domestic surveillance have demonstrated bias in their research. Links to relevant documents are in chronological order, as follows: Letter from Congressman Peter Hoekstra, Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, to… Continue Reading
EPA Libraries And Unique E-Catalog Threatened by Budget Cutbacks
Press release: “Under President Bushs proposed budget, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is slated to shut down its network of libraries that serve its own scientists as well as the public, according to internal agency documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). In addition to the libraries, the agency will pull the… Continue Reading
New Issue of FDIC Consumer News Provides Financial Guide to Disaster Planning
FDIC Consumer News, Winter 2005/2006 – Fires, Floods and Other Misfortunes: Are You Prepared Financially?. Alos in this issue, see Consumer Alert: Beware of Disaster-Related Financial Scams. Continue Reading
USTR to Strengthen Enforcement in Readjustment of U.S.-China Trade Policy
Press release: “Today, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman unveiled the results of a top-to-bottom review of U.S.-China Trade Policy at a news conference. The report, U.S. – China Trade Relations: Entering a New Phase of Greater Accountability and Enforcement (29 pages, PDF), is the first comprehensive statement of U.S. trade policy towards China since it… Continue Reading
Case Study of CD Disk Protection System That Triggered Class Action Suit
Lessons from the Sony CD DRM Episode, February 14, 2006 (27 pages, PDF), by J. Alex Halderman and Edward W. Felton. Continue Reading
ABA Task Force on Domestic Surveillance in the Fight Against Terrorism
Follow up to February 10, 2006 posting, Survey on Spy Program Reflects Public Concern With Constitutional Freedoms, this news today from the ABA Task Force on Domestic Surveillance in the Fight Against Terrorism: Letter to President Bush and New ABA Policy on Domestic Surveillance (1 page, PDF) Report of ABA Task Force on Domestic Surveillance… Continue Reading
State Dept. Establishes Task Force on Global Internet Freedom
Following up on recent postings: Yahoo Issues Statement on Chinese Net Censorship, Net Censorship Abroad – Free Speech Colides With E-commerce? and Hearing Focuses on Internet Censorship in China, related news today via this State Dept. press release – statement of Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs Josette Shiner: “I’m pleased… Continue Reading
State of the World 2006
State of the World 2006 – Special Focus: China and India, January 2006 ($). “This year, Worldwatch Institute’s annual State of the World report provides a special focus on China and India, examining the global impact as these two nations join the United States and Europe as major consumers of resources and polluters of local… Continue Reading
Review of FOIA Countries Worldwide
Review of FOIA Countries Worldwide – February 1, 2006 (10 pages, PDF), by Roger Vleugels, an independent Dutch-based legal consultant and FOIA expert. Continue Reading
Report Attributes Extensive Government Failures In Hurricane Response
New York Times: Republicans’ Report on Katrina Assails Administration Response Washington Post: Katrina Report Spreads Blame, Homeland Security, Chertoff Singled Out Related government documents: DHS Fact Sheet: Strengthening FEMA to Maximize Mission Performance, February 13, 2006 – “Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced several new measures designed to strengthen the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA)… Continue Reading
