“The Department of Homeland Security (DHS or Department) Privacy Office is the first statutorily created privacy office in any federal agency, as set forth in Section 222 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended. The mission of the Privacy Office is to protect all individuals by embedding and enforcing privacy protections and transparency in… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Defense
Retired NSA Technical Director Explains Snowden Docs
Alexa O’Brien – Based on a work at alexaobrien.com – “I had an opportunity to attend a presentation by a retired technical director at the NSA, William Binney, which provided context for some of the published documents released by former NSA contractor, Edward Snowden. Because of the public value of Binney’s expertise on the subject, I decided to publish his presentation… Continue Reading
The Islamic State through the Regional Lens
“Welcome to European Council on Foreign Relation’s new project, The Islamic State through the Regional Lens. This series examines the reaction of key Middle Eastern actors, as well as looking at European policy options, the dynamics driving IS itself, and the impact within Syria and Iraq respectively. Each of the 14 pieces presents and dissects the… Continue Reading
A Public Accountability Defense for National Security Leakers and Whistleblowers
A Public Accountability Defense for National Security Leakers and Whistleblowers, Yochai Benkler. The Harvard Law & Policy Review, Vol 8 No 2. July 2014. “In June 2013 Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras, and Barton Gellman began to publish stories in The Guardian and The Washington Post based on arguably the most significant national security leak in American history. By leaking… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – Afghanistan Equipment Drawdown, Bureau of Prisons, Elections, Unmanned Aerial Systems
AFGHANISTAN EQUIPMENT DRAWDOWN: Progress Made, but Improved Controls in Decision Making Could Reduce Risk of Unnecessary Expenditures, GAO-14-768: Published: Sep 30, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2014. BUREAU OF PRISONS: Information on Efforts and Potential Options to Save Costs, GAO-14-821: Published: Sep 30, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2014. ELECTIONS: Observations on Wait Times for Voters on Election Day 2012, GAO-14-850: Published: Sep… Continue Reading
Overview of the U.S. nuclear weapons program
“Nuclear weapons and countering nuclear threats will continue to be a central concern for the United States until we achieve President Obama’s vision of a world without nuclear weapons. The President has identified the dual missions of sustaining a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent and countering the threat from nuclear terrorism and nuclear proliferation… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – Aviation, Cloud Computing, Data Center Consolidation, Littoral Combat Ship, Overseas Real Property
AVIATION: Impact of Fuel Price Increases on the Aviation Industry, GAO-14-331: Published: Sep 25, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 25, 2014. CLOUD COMPUTING: Additional Opportunities and Savings Need to Be Pursued, GAO-14-753: Published: Sep 25, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 25, 2014. DATA CENTER CONSOLIDATION: Reporting Can Be Improved to Reflect Substantial Planned Savings, GAO-14-713: Published: Sep 25, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 25, 2014. LITTORAL… Continue Reading
Instances of Use of United States Armed Forces Abroad, 1798-2014
Instances of Use of United States Armed Forces Abroad, 1798-2014. Barbara Salazar Torreon, Information Research Specialist, September 15, 2014. “The following list reviews hundreds of instances in which the United States has used military forces abroad in situations of military conflict or potential conflict to protect U.S. citizens or promote U.S. interests. The list does not include covert… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – Drinking Water, Federal Software Licenses, F-35 Sustainment, Health Resources and Services Admin., Surface Transportation
DRINKING WATER: Characterization of Injected Fluids Associated with Oil and Gas Production, GAO-14-857R: Published: Sep 23, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 23, 2014. FEDERAL SOFTWARE LICENSES: Most Agencies Have Reported Planned Actions to Address Our Prior Recommendations on Software License Management, GAO-14-835R: Published: Sep 23, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 23, 2014. F-35 SUSTAINMENT: Need for Affordable Strategy, Greater Attention to Risks, and… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – DOD Joint Bases, Federal Real Property, Fish Stock Assessments
DOD JOINT BASES: Implementation Challenges Demonstrate Need to Reevaluate the Program, GAO-14-577: Published: Sep 19, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 19, 2014: “Joint base officials reported varying progress in consolidating installation-support functions, and challenges resulting from consolidation efforts that created inefficiencies and inequities. Overall, the joint bases reported partially consolidating 80 percent of their installation-support functions, but the extent… Continue Reading
IG Report – Millions Wasted on Communication Towers in Afghanistan
Jessica Murphy – POGO: “According to a new report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), the State Department paid $6.5 million for six communication towers that were never used as intended. This high cost exceeded the State Department’s initial recommended limit of $2 million per contract. In 2010, the State Department began constructing a network of communication… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports: Depot Maintenance, Healthcare.gov, IGs, Large Partnerships, Secure Flight, VA Health Care
DEPOT MAINTENANCE: Accurate and Complete Data Needed to Meet DOD’s Core Capability Reporting Requirements, GAO-14-777: Published: Sep 18, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 18, 2014. HEALTHCARE.GOV: Information Security and Privacy Controls Should Be Enhanced to Address Weaknesses, GAO-14-871T: Published: Sep 18, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 18, 2014. INSPECTORS GENERAL: Improvements Needed in the Office of Inspector General’s Oversight of the Denali Commission, GAO-14-320: Published: Sep… Continue Reading
