New York Times – David Sanger and Thom Shanker: “The National Security Agency has implanted software in nearly 100,000 computers around the world that allows the United States to conduct surveillance on those machines and can also create a digital highway for launching cyberattacks. While most of the software is inserted by gaining access to computer networks,… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Defense
Rising Costs and Delays in Construction of New DHS Headquarters
Reality Check Needed: Rising Costs and Delays in Construction of New DHS Headquarters at St. Elizabeths. U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, January 2014, Prepared by Majority Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security. “Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency, released a…report examines the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS)… Continue Reading
DefenseTech – British Fighter Flies with 3D Printed Parts
Mike Hoffman: “The United Kingdom’s Tornado became the first fighter jet to fly with 3D printed parts in December. Done by BAE Systems, the Tornado was fitted with metal components constructed by a 3D printer. The plane then completed test flights at the end of December at BAE System’s airfield in Warton, Lancashire. The 3D printer constructed a protective… Continue Reading
HuffPo: James Risen Takes His Press Freedom Fight To The Supreme Court
Jack Mirkinson: “New York Times reporter James Risen said Monday that he has formally taken his legal battle to prevent him from having to reveal confidential sources all the way to the Supreme Court. Risen was ordered last year to testify in the trial of Jeffrey Sterling, a former CIA agent charged with leaking classified information… Continue Reading
Report on Wasteful Spending by the Federal Government
Wastebook 2013, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) – “U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK), ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today released his annual oversight report “Wastebook 2013” highlighting 100 examples of wasteful and low-priority spending totaling nearly $30 billion. “Had Congress, in particular, been focused on doing its job of setting priorities and cutting… Continue Reading
NSA and GCHQ activities appear illegal, says EU parliamentary inquiry
Nick Hopkins and Ian Traynor, UK Guardian: “Mass surveillance programmes used by the US and Britain to spy on people in Europe have been condemned in the “strongest possible terms” by the first parliamentary inquiry into the disclosures, which has demanded an end to the vast, systematic and indiscriminate collection of personal data by intelligence agencies. The inquiry by the European… Continue Reading
Transcript: NSA Deputy Director John Inglis
“National Security Agency Deputy Director John C. “Chris” Inglis has spent most of his time recently defending the NSA from revelations by former contractor Edward Snowden. Snowden disclosed that the agency was gathering phone records of millions of Americans. Inglis retires(d) Friday [January 10, 1014). Before stepping down, he talked to Morning Editionco-host Steve Inskeep about running… Continue Reading
China and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missiles: Policy Issues
CRS – China and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missiles: Policy Issues, Shirley A. Kan, Specialist in Asian Security Affairs, January 3, 2014. “Congress has long been concerned about whether U.S. policy advances U.S. security interests in reducing the role of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and missiles as… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – Government Support for Bank Holding Companies, InfoSec, James Webb Space Telescope
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR BANK HOLDING COMPANIES – Statutory Changes to Limit Future Support Are Not Yet Fully Implemented, GAO-14-174T, Jan 8, 2014: “GAO found that from 2007 through 2009, the federal government’s actions to stabilize the financial system provided significant funding support and other benefits to bank holding companies and their subsidiaries. The Board of Governors of… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – Compacts of Free Association, Defense Infrastructure, Iranian Commercial Activities
COMPACTS OF FREE ASSOCIATION – Actions Needed to Improve Oversight and Accountability of U.S. Assistance to Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, GAO-14-243T, Jan 7, 2014 DEFENSE INFRASTRUCTURE – Army Brigade Combat Team Inactivations Informed by Analyses, but Actions Needed to Improve Stationing Process, GAO-14-76, Dec 11, 2013 IRANIAN COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES – Foreign Firms Reported to Have Engaged in Certain Activities… Continue Reading
CRS – In Re Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001
In Re Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001: Claims Against Saudi Defendants Under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA). Jennifer K. Elsea, Legislative Attorney, December 27, 2013. “Practical and legal hurdles, including the difficulty of locating hidden al Qaeda members and the infeasibility of enforcing judgments in terrorism cases, hinder victims’ attempts to establish liability in U.S. courts against, and… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – DHS Enforcement Systems, In-Car Location Based Services, Medicaid, GSA Telecommunications
DHS’s Efforts to Modernize Key Enforcement Systems Could be Strengthened, GAO-14-62, Dec 5, 2013 IN-CAR LOCATION-BASED SERVICES – Companies Are Taking Steps to Protect Privacy, but Some Risks May Not Be Clear to Consumers, GAO-14-81, Dec 6, 2013 MEDICAID – Use of Claims Data for Analysis of Provider Payment Rates, GAO-14-56R, Jan 6, 2014 TELECOMMUNICATIONS – GSA Needs to Share and… Continue Reading
