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Daily Archives: November 7, 2007

FBI Releases New Report: Terrorism 2002-2005

Terrorism 2002-2005 (73 pages, PDF): “Since the mid-1980s, the FBI has published Terrorism in the United States, an unclassified annual report summarizing terrorist activities in this country. While this publication provided an overview of the terrorist threat in the United States and its territories, its limited scope proved inadequate for conveying either the breadth or width of the terrorist threat facing U.S. interests or the scale of the FBI’s response to terrorism worldwide…This second edition of Terrorism provides an overview of the terrorist incidents and preventions designated by the FBI as having taken place in the United States and its territories during the years 2002 through 2005 and that are matters of public record. This publication does not include those incidents which the Bureau classifies under criminal rather than terrorism investigations. In addition, the report discusses major FBI investigations overseas and identifies significant events—including legislative actions, prosecutorial updates, and program developments—relevant to U.S. counterterrorism efforts. The report concludes with an “In Focus” article summarizing the history of the FBI’s counterterrorism program.”

Leahy, Cornyn Introduce Bill To Step Up Enforcement Of Laws That Protect America’s Intellectual Property

Press release: “Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Committee member Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) Wednesday introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen U.S. government efforts to combat copyright infringement and counterfeiting at home and abroad. The Judiciary Committee Wednesday also held a hearing today, Examining U.S. Government Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights. The Intellectual Property… Continue Reading

Public Libraries in the United States: Fiscal Year 2005

National Center for Education Statistics, Public Libraries in the United States: Fiscal Year 2005: “This report includes national and state summary data on public libraries in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, with an introduction, selected findings, and several tables. The report, based on data from the Public Libraries Survey for fiscal year… Continue Reading

HHS OIG Audit – Review of Generic Drug Price Increases

Review of Generic Drug Price Increases (A-06-07-00042), October 24, 2007: “Generic drug price increases exceeded the specified statutory inflation factor applicable to brand-name drugs for 35 percent of the quarterly average manufacturer prices reviewed. If the provision for brand-name drugs were extended to generic drugs, the Medicaid program would receive additional rebates. By applying the… Continue Reading

FTC Announces Law Enforcement Crackdown on Do Not Call Violators

Press release: “The Federal Trade Commission today announced a law enforcement crackdown on companies and individuals accused of violating the requirements of the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry, resulting in six settlements collectively imposing nearly $7.7 million in civil penalties, along with an additional complaint that will be filed in federal district court. The… Continue Reading

Bureau of Justice Statistics: Identity Theft, 2005

Identity Theft, 2005 released on November 7, 2007: “Presents data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) on identity theft victimization and its consequences. This report presents the first full year of data available after new questions about identity theft were added to the survey in July 2004. Identity theft is defined in the report… Continue Reading

Former Telecom Tech Alleges Domestic Data Surveillance

Follow up to previous postings on the domestic surveillance program and AT&T’s alleged participation, today’s article in the Washington Post, A Story of Surveillance – Former Technician ‘Turning In’ AT&T Over NSA Program, by Ellen Nakashima: “…Mark Klein, a former AT&T technician…alleged that the NSA set up a system that vacuumed up Internet and phone-call… Continue Reading

Guide to Optimizing Investments in Security Countermeasures

Optimizing Investments in Security Countermeasures: A Practical Tool for Fixed Budgets, by Jonathan Caulkins and Nancy R. Mead, September/October 2007 edition of IEEE Security and Privacy Magazine. “In the article, the team presents a tool and methodology they developed for software engineers and their clients to help them make security decisions when resources are limited.” Continue Reading

Recent CRS Reports

November 5, 2007 – Understanding Mortgage Foreclosure: Recent Events, the Process, and Costs November 2, 2007 – Director of National Intelligence Statutory Authorities: Status and Proposals November 2, 2007 – The MS-13 and 18th Street Gangs: Emerging Transnational Gang Threats? November 1, 2007 – National Strategy for Combating Terrorism: Background and Issues for Congress November… Continue Reading

Rand Report: Byting Back – Regaining Information Superiority Against 21st-Century Insurgents

Byting Back — Regaining Information Superiority Against 21st-Century Insurgents, RAND Counterinsurgency Study — Volume 1: “U.S. counterinsurgency efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan have failed to exploit information power, which could be a U.S. advantage but instead is being used advantageously by insurgents. Because insurgency and counterinsurgency involve a battle for the allegiance of a population… Continue Reading