Learning from Iraq: Final Report from Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, March 2013 “The foregoing litany of data, interviews, analyses, and history provides a substantial and sound basis from which to derive lessons about the Iraq reconstruction program. The Iraqis, the recipients of the United States’ extraordinary reconstruction largesse, largely lament the lost potential… Continue Reading
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Author Archives: Sabrina I. Pacifici
NASA Technical Reports Server Shut Down in Wake of Security Investigation
Via Space.com: “NASA has taken its huge database of technical reports offline in response to the arrest last weekend of a former contractor suspected of spying for China. The space agency decided to shut down the NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) as part of a broad security review spurred by the arrest of Bo Jiang,… Continue Reading
NYT – New Reasons to Change Light Bulbs
David Pogue: “…LED bulbs are a gigantic improvement over incandescent bulbs and even the compact fluorescents, or CFLs, that the world spent several years telling us to buy. LEDs last about 25 times as long as incandescents and three times as long as CFLs; were talking maybe 25,000 hours of light. Install one today, and… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – Community Development Block Grants, Progress made by DHS
Community Development Block Grants – Reporting on Compliance with Limit on Funds Used for Administration Can Be Improved, GAO-13-247, Mar 21, 2013 High-Risk Series – Government-wide 2013 Update and Progress Made by the Department of Homeland Security, GAO-13-444T, Mar 21, 2013 Continue Reading
Economist Intelligence Unit – Democracy Index 2012
Democracy Index 2012 [requires free registration to download]: “In 2012 global democracy was at a standstill in the sense that there was neither significant progress nor regression in democracy in that year. Average regional scores in 2012 were very similar to scores in 2011. Free and fair elections and civil liberties are necessary conditions for… Continue Reading
Publishing Scientific Papers with Potential Security Risks: Issues for Congress
CRS – Publishing Scientific Papers with Potential Security Risks: Issues for Congress, Frank Gottron. March 18, 2013 “The federal government generally supports the publication of federally funded research results because wide dissemination may drive innovation, job creation, technology development, and the advance of science. However, some research results could also be used for malicious purposes.… Continue Reading
Human Rights in China and U.S. Policy: Issues for the 113th Congress
CRS – Congress Human Rights in China and U.S. Policy: Issues for the 113th Congress, Thomas Lum, Specialist in Foreign Affairs. March 15, 2013 “This report examines human rights issues in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), including ongoing rights abuses, legal reforms, and the development of civil society. Major events of the past year… Continue Reading
CRS – Financial Condition of Depository Banks
Financial Condition of Depository Banks, Darryl E. Getter, Specialist in Financial Economics. March 18, 2013 “A bank is an institution that obtains either a federal or state charter that allows it to accept federally insured deposits and pay interest to depositors. In addition, the charter allows banks to make residential and commercial mortgage loans; provide… Continue Reading
CRS – Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification
Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification, Andorra Bruno, Specialist in Immigration Policy. March 19, 2013 The 113th Congress is expected to take up comprehensive immigration reform. Some of the most difficult immigration policy questions on the table concern unauthorized immigration and unauthorized employment. Todays discussions about these issues build on the work of prior Congresses. In 1986,… Continue Reading
Supporting Criminal Justice System Reform in Mexico: The U.S. Role
CRS – Supporting Criminal Justice System Reform in Mexico: The U.S. Role, Clare Ribando Seelke, Specialist in Latin American Affairs. March 18, 2013 “Fostering security, stability, and democracy in neighboring Mexico is seen by analysts to be in the U.S. national security and economic interest. Reforming Mexicos often corrupt and inefficient criminal justice system is… Continue Reading
Basel Committee publishes for consultation supervisory guidance on external audits of banks
Basel Committee on Banking Supervision Consultative Document, External audits of banks, March 2013 “The recent financial crisis not only revealed weaknesses in risk management, control and governance processes at banks, but also highlighted the need to improve the quality of external audits of banks. Given the central role banks play in contributing to financial stability,… Continue Reading
Federal Computer Week: Amazon and CIA ink cloud deal
“In a move sure to send ripples through the federal IT community, FCW has learned that the CIA has agreed to a cloud computing contract with electronic commerce giant Amazon, worth up to $600 million over 10 years. Amazon Web Services will help the intelligence agency build a private cloud infrastructure that helps the agency… Continue Reading
