Quartz: “When the US entered the nuclear age, it did so recklessly. New research suggests that the hidden cost of developing nuclear weapons were far larger than previous estimates, with radioactive fallout responsible for 340,000 to 690,000 American deaths from 1951 to 1973. The study, performed by University of Arizona economist Keith Meyers, uses a novel method (pdf)… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Defense
Why the US Needs a National AI Strategy and What It Should Look Like
Joshua New, senior policy analyst at the Center for Data Innovation – “The United States is the global leader in developing and using artificial intelligence (AI), but it may not be for long. Succeeding in AI requires more than just having leading companies make investments. It requires a healthy ecosystem of AI companies, robust AI… Continue Reading
Congressional Oversight of Intelligence: Background and Selected Options for Further Reform
EveryCRSReport.com – Congressional Oversight of Intelligence: Background and Selected Options for Further Reform, December 4, 2018: “Prior to the establishment of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) in 1976 and 1977, respectively, Congress did not take much interest in conducting oversight of the Intelligence Community… Continue Reading
Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and the Use of Force by States
Deeks, Ashley and Lubell, Noam and Murray, Daragh, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and the Use of Force by States (November 16, 2018). 10 Journal of National Security Law & Policy (2019, Forthcoming); Virginia Public Law and Legal Theory Research Paper No. 2018-63. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3285879 “Big data technology and machine learning techniques play a… Continue Reading
CRS Defense Primers
Via Secrecy News: “Several short introductions to basic aspects of U.S. military policy have recently been updated by the Congressional Research Service. Intended for congressional consumers, they may also be useful to others.” Defense Primer: Organization of U.S. Ground Forces, CRS In Focus, updated November 16, 2018 Defense Primer: Special Operations Forces, CRS In Focus,… Continue Reading
Report – US Has Spent Six Trillion Dollars on Wars That Killed Half a Million People Since 9/11
Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, November 14, 2018 – “Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the United States government has spent and obligated more than $5.9 trillion on wars in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other places around the world, according to the Costs of War Project. Written by Boston University Professor… Continue Reading
The Pentagon’s Getting More Secretive and It’s Hurting National Security
Defense One: “At a time of rampant executive branch corruption and large increases in defense spending, Americans are rightly concerned about the need for governmental transparency. People deserve to know how their money is being used, and what life-or-death decisions the Pentagon bureaucracy is making in their names. As President Trump asks for more defense… Continue Reading
Report – American military advantage eroded
Providing for the Common Defense – The Assessments and Recommendations of the National Defense Strategy Commission November 13, 2018 / By: National Defense Strategy Commission. “The final report of the National Defense Strategy Commission is a compilation of the assessments of the National Defense Strategy and recommendations based on its analysis related not just to… Continue Reading
The British Army is carrying out a massive test of military robots and drones
The Future is Now…Technology Review – “The British Army is testing out over 70 new technologies, including unmanned vehicles and surveillance drones, in a four-week experiment on one of its biggest training grounds. What sort of stuff? The department isn’t giving out specifics but said the focus will be on “surveillance, long-range, and precision targeting,… Continue Reading
Deep Fakes: A Looming Challenge for Privacy, Democracy, and National Security
Chesney, Robert and Citron, Danielle Keats, Deep Fakes: A Looming Challenge for Privacy, Democracy, and National Security (July 14, 2018). 107 California Law Review (2019, Forthcoming); U of Texas Law, Public Law Research Paper No. 692; U of Maryland Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2018-21. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3213954 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3213954 “Harmful lies are nothing… Continue Reading
DOD Just Beginning to Grapple with Scale of Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities
FCW.com: GAO hacks DOD weapons systems, calls out weak cyber Weapon Systems Cybersecurity: DOD Just Beginning to Grapple with Scale of Vulnerabilities. GAO-19-128: Published: Oct 9, 2018. Publicly Released: Oct 9, 2018. “DOD’s weapons are more computerized and networked than ever before, so it’s no surprise that there are more opportunities for attacks. Yet until… Continue Reading
Trump’s International Ratings Remain Low, Especially Among Key Allies
Most still want U.S. as top global power, but see China on the rise – “America’s global image plummeted following the election of President Donald Trump, amid widespread opposition to his administration’s policies and a widely shared lack of confidence in his leadership. Now, as the second anniversary of Trump’s election approaches, a new 25-nation… Continue Reading
