Travis J. Tritten – Stars and Stripes: “U.S. post-war efforts to rebuild Afghanistan could collapse in a defeat similar to the fall of Saigon in 1975, the federal auditor overseeing reconstruction said Wednesday. The country’s future — and the $62 billion American investment — is threatened by the military’s chronically poor intelligence on Afghan security… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Defense
U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces: Background, Developments, and Issues
CRS – U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces: Background, Developments, and Issues. Amy F. Woolf, Specialist in Nuclear Weapons Policy. March 18, 2015. “Even though the United States plans to reduce the number of warheads deployed on its long-range missiles and bombers, consistent with the terms of the New START Treaty, it also plans to develop new… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – Aviation Security, Border Security, Indian Affairs, Medicaid Demonstrations, North Korea Sanctions
Aviation Security: TSA Has Taken Steps to Improve Oversight of Key Programs, but Additional Actions Are Needed, GAO-15-559T: Published: May 13, 2015. Publicly Released: May 13, 2015. Border Security: Progress and Challenges in DHS’s Efforts to Implement and Assess Infrastructure and Technology, GAO-15-595T: Published: May 13, 2015. Publicly Released: May 13, 2015. Indian Affairs: Further… Continue Reading
White House documents found to be altered
Via FGI – Free Government Information, by James R. Jacobs – “Researchers at the University of Illinois say they have found evidence on the Whitehouse Web site that suggests “a pattern of revision and removal from the public record that spans several years, from 2003 through at least 2005. Instead of issuing a series of… Continue Reading
GAO – Missile Defense – Opportunities Exist to Reduce Acquisition Risk and Improve Reporting on System Capabilities
Missile Defense: Opportunities Exist to Reduce Acquisition Risk and Improve Reporting on System Capabilities, GAO-15-345: Published: May 6, 2015. Publicly Released: May 6, 2015. “In fiscal year 2014, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) made some progress in achieving its testing and delivery goals for individual elements of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), but was… Continue Reading
CRS – Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations
Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations, Christopher M. Blanchard, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs. April 29, 2015. “The kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ruled by the Al Saud family since its founding in 1932, wields significant global political and economic influence through its administration of the birthplace of the Islamic faith and by virtue of its… Continue Reading
Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DOD Spends Its Contracting Dollar
CRS Report – Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DOD Spends Its Contracting Dollars. Moshe Schwartz, Specialist in Defense Acquisition; Wendy Ginsberg, Analyst in American National Government, John F. Sargent Jr.Specialist in Science and Technology Policy. April 30, 2015. “The Department of Defense (DOD) has long relied on contractors to provide the U.S. military with a… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – Community Development Capital Initiative, Controlled Substances, Unmanned Carrier-Based Aircraft System
Community Development Capital Initiative: Status of the Program Investments and Participants, GAO-15-542: Published: May 5, 2015. Publicly Released: May 5, 2015. Controlled Substances: DEA Needs to Better Manage Its Quota Process and Improve Coordination with FDA, GAO-15-494T: Published: May 5, 2015. Publicly Released: May 5, 2015. Unmanned Carrier-Based Aircraft System: Navy Needs to Demonstrate Match… Continue Reading
European Fighters in Syria and Iraq: Assessments, Responses, and Issues for the United States
CRS Report – European Fighters in Syria and Iraq: Assessments, Responses, and Issues for the United States, April 27, 2015. “The rising number of U.S. and European citizens traveling to fight with rebel and terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq has emerged as a growing concern for U.S. and European leaders, including Members of Congress.… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – Defense Contracting, Railroad Retirement Board
Defense Contracting: DOD’s Use of Competitive Procedures, GAO-15-484R: Published: May 1, 2015. Publicly Released: May 1, 2015: “During the period from fiscal year 2010 through fiscal year 2014, DOD’s competition rate—the dollars obligated annually on competitive contracts and task orders as a percentage of dollars obligated on all contracts and orders—ranged from 60.8 percent to… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports: Homeland Security, SEC’s Internal Controls, SEC Oversight of FINRA, Southwest Border, Needy Families, USAID
Homeland Security: Actions Needed to Better Manage Security Screening at Federal Buildings and Courthouses, GAO-15-445: Published: Mar 31, 2015. Publicly Released: Apr 30, 2015. Management Report: Improvements Needed in SEC’s Internal Controls and Accounting Procedures, GAO-15-387R: Published: Apr 30, 2015. Publicly Released: Apr 30, 2015. Securities Regulation: SEC Can Further Enhance Its Oversight Program of… Continue Reading
Flying Under the Radar: Securing Washington D.C. Airspace
On April 29, 2015 the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a hearing titled, “Flying Under the Radar: Securing Washington, D.C. Airspace [link includes Witness and Testimony Documents]This hearing examined how a small gyrocopter entered restricted airspace and landed on the West Lawn of the Capitol. HEARING BACKGROUND: “On April 15, 2015, an individual… Continue Reading
