CRS report via FAS – Iran: Politics, Gulf Security, and U.S. Policy. Kenneth Katzman, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs. August 19, 2016. “Since the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, a priority of U.S. policy has been primarily to reduce the perceived threat posed by Iran to a broad range of U.S. interests, including the… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Defense
OIG – Army General Fund Adjustments Not Adequately Documented or Supported
07-26-2016, Financial Management, Army General Fund Adjustments Not Adequately Documented or Supported (Project No. D2015-D000FL-0243.000), DODIG-2016-113. “We determined whether adjustments made to Army General Fund (AGF) data during the FY 2015 financial statement compilation process were adequately documented and supported. In addition, we assessed the internal controls over the compilation process. The Office of the… Continue Reading
The Economist – Global Liveability Ranking 2016
The Economist Intelligence Unit – “The latest findings of The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Ranking (reg. req’d) – which provides scores for lifestyle challenges in 140 cities worldwide – show that although Melbourne has retained its crown as the world’s most liveable city, liveability has deteriorated in 29 of the 140 cities (20 per… Continue Reading
DOD Contractor and Troop Levels in Iraq and Afghanistan: 2007-2016
Department of Defense Contractor and Troop Levels in Iraq and Afghanistan: 2007-2016, Heidi M. Peters, Coordinator, Information Research Specialist; Moshe Schwartz, Specialist in Defense Acquisition; Lawrence Kapp, Specialist in Military Manpower Policy. August 15, 2016. “This report provides background information for Congress on the levels of Department of Defense (DOD) troop and contractor personnel deployed… Continue Reading
Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States
CRS report via FAS – The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS): “The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is comprised of nine members, two ex officio members, and other members as appointed by the President representing major departments and agencies within the federal executive branch. While the group… Continue Reading
CRS – Al Qaeda and U.S. Policy: Middle East and Africa
Via FAS – Al Qaeda and U.S. Policy: Middle East and Africa. Carla E. Humud, Analyst in Middle Eastern and African Affairs. August 11, 2016. “After nearly a decade and a half of combating Al Qaeda (AQ) in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the United States faces an increasingly diverse threat from Al Qaeda affiliates in the… Continue Reading
GAO Reports – Antidumping and Countervailing Duties, Post-Katrina Communications, EPA Grants Management, National Guard and Reserves
Antidumping and Countervailing Duties: CBP Action Needed to Reduce Duty Processing Errors and Mitigate Nonpayment Risk, GAO-16-542: Published: Jul 14, 2016. Publicly Released: Aug 15, 2016. Emergency Communications: Effectiveness of the Post-Katrina Interagency Coordination Group Could Be Enhanced, GAO-16-681: Published: Jul 14, 2016. Publicly Released: Aug 15, 2016. Federal Workforce: Opportunities Exist to Improve Data… Continue Reading
Cultural Property: Protection of Iraqi and Syrian Antiquities
Cultural Property: Protection of Iraqi and Syrian Antiquities, GAO-16-673: Published: Aug 15, 2016. Publicly Released: Aug 15, 2016.< “U.S. agencies and the Smithsonian Institution (Smithsonian) have undertaken five types of activities to protect Iraqi and Syrian cultural property since 2011, which include awareness raising, information sharing, law enforcement, overseas capacity building, and destruction prevention. For… Continue Reading
MEPs back plans to pool policing of EU external borders
“Plans to set up an EU border control system, bringing together the EU’s Frontex border agency and national border management authorities, were endorsed by MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) on Wednesday (August 10, 2016). Under these plans, national authorities will still manage their borders on a day-to-day basis but, if their EU external borders… Continue Reading
Updated in 2016, the Global Terrorism Database World Map
“Updated in 2016, the GTD World Map: 45 Years of Terrorism displays the concentration and intensity (combining fatalities and injuries) of terrorist attacks that occurred worldwide across 45 years of data.” Continue Reading
Fractured Lands: How the Arab World Came Apart
New York Times Magazine: “In a first for the magazine, the issue is devoted entirely to one 40,000 word story entitled ‘Fractured Lands: How the Arab World Came Apart’ by contributing writer Scott Anderson, with photographs by Paolo Pellegrin. Anderson argues that the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the U.S. set the wheels in motion… Continue Reading
The Atlantic – Is America Any Safer Post 9/11?
Since 9/11, the United States has spent $1 trillion to defend against al-Qaeda and ISIL, dirty bombs and lone wolves, bioterror and cyberterror. Has it worked? -“… over the past 15 years, the American government has spent $100 billion to $150 billion on failed or unworthy homeland-security programs and on acquiring and maintaining equipment that… Continue Reading
