Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002

Daily Archives: July 17, 2007

Judiciary Committee Asks AG for More Documents Related to U.S. Attorney Firings

Follow-up to previous postings related to ongoing investigations into U.S. Attorney firings, see this press release: Conyers, Judiciary Members Ask AG for Documents, Information on Alabama’s Siegelman Case and Allegations of Other Selective Prosecutions Request from Conyers, Judiciary Members to AG for Documents: “Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Reps. Linda… Continue Reading

New GAO Reports: Federal Acquisitions and Contracting, Military Personnel, PBGC, USCIS Transformation

Federal Acquisitions and Contracting: Systemic Challenges Need Attention, GAO-07-1098T, July 17, 2007 – “In fiscal year 2006, the federal government spent over $400 billion for a wide variety of goods and services, with the Department of Defense (DOD) being the largest purchaser. Given the large and growing structural deficit, the government must get the best… Continue Reading

National Intelligence Estimate, "The Terrorist Threat to the US Homeland"

National Intelligence Estimate, The Terrorist Threat to the US Homeland, released July 17, 2007 (7 pages, PDF) State Department press release: “The terrorist organization al-Qaida remains a persistent and evolving threat to the United States, according to a new report from the U.S. intelligence community. “The main threat comes from Islamic terrorist groups and cells,… Continue Reading

DOD OIG Reports – Procurement Policy for Armored Vehicles, Governmental Purchases, and Customer Wait Time

Report Number D-2007-107 “Procurement Policy for Armored Vehicles (U)” (60 pages, PDF), dated June 27, 2007: “The Marine Corps Systems Command awarded sole-source contracts to Force Protection, Inc., for the Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal Rapid Response Vehicle even though Marine Corps Systems Command officials knew other sources were available for competition. In addition, TACOM Life… Continue Reading

Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms

Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms, Carnegie Resource Page, July 16, 2007: “With the world’s attention focused as never before on political reform and democratization in Arab countries, giving rise to often highly politicized debates, it is important to provide accurate, factual information about Arab political systems and reforms being introduced in the region.… Continue Reading

Competitive Conditions for Foreign Direct Investment in India

“India is a fast-growing destination for global flows of foreign direct investment (FDI), according to a new staff research study by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) Office of Industries. Competitive Conditions for Foreign Direct Investment in India looks at FDI flows into India by country and by industry and examines India’s investment climate through… Continue Reading

Vatican Apostolic Library Closes for 3 Year Renovation but Vatican Film Library Remains Open

Press release: “…on July 14…the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (Vatican Apostolic Library) in Rome [closed] for at least three years of extensive renovation. For the Vatican Film Library at Saint Louis University, however, the world might just open up a little wider. The Knights of Columbus Vatican Film Library, located in Pius XII Memorial library, holds… Continue Reading

Salmonella Wandsworth Outbreak Investigation, June – July 2007

Salmonella Wandsworth Outbreak Investigation, June – July 2007: “Public health officials in OutbreakNet (the network of epidemiologists and other public health officials, facilitated by CDC, who investigate outbreaks of foodborne, waterborne, and other enteric illnesses nationwide) are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Wandsworth infections. Salmonella Wandsworth is a rare strain of Salmonella.” Continue Reading