Uranium purchases and prices: “Owners and operators of U.S. civilian nuclear power reactors (“civilian owner/operators” or “COOs”) purchased a total of 57 million pounds U3O8e (equivalent1) of deliveries from U.S. suppliers and foreign suppliers during 2013, at a weighted-average price of $51.99 per pound U3O8e. The 2013 total of 57 million pounds U3O8e decreased slightly compared… Continue Reading
Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002
Category Archives: Defense
New GAO Reports – Critical Infrastructure Protection, Disaster Resilience, Law Enforcement Body Armor
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION: Observations on DHS Efforts to Implement and Manage its Chemical Security Program, GAO-14-608T: Published: May 14, 2014. Publicly Released: May 14, 2014. DISASTER RESILIENCE: Actions Are Underway, but Federal Fiscal Exposure Highlights the Need for Continued Attention to Longstanding Challenges, GAO-14-603T: Published: May 14, 2014. Publicly Released: May 14, 2014. LAW ENFORCEMENT BODY ARMOR: Status of DOJ’s Efforts… Continue Reading
CRS – Ukraine: Current Issues and U.S. Policy
Ukraine: Current Issues and U.S. Policy, Steven Woehrel, Specialist in European Affairs. May 8, 2014 “After a failed effort to violently disperse pro-European Union protests, the government of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych collapsed on February 21, 2014. The Ukrainian parliament approved a new pro-reform, pro-Western government on February 27. New presidential elections arescheduled for May 25. Russia has… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – DOD Financial Management, VA Education Benefits
DOD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: Actions Under Way Need to Be Successfully Completed to Address Long-standing Funds Control Weaknesses, GAO-14-94: Published: Apr 29, 2014. Publicly Released: May 13, 2014. DOD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: Effect of Continuing Weaknesses on Management and Operations and Status of Key Challenges, GAO-14-576T: Published: May 13, 2014. Publicly Released: May 13, 2014. VA EDUCATION BENEFITS: VA Should Strengthen Its Efforts to… Continue Reading
New Documents Reveal Close Ties Between NSA and Tech Companies, PBS Special to Air
EPIC: “New e-mails obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reveal former NSA Director Keith Alexander’s close communication with technology companies regarding emerging cybersecurity threats. The CEOs of Google, Apple, Microsoft, and other technology companies were invited to classified briefings as part of the “Enduring Security Framework,” a government initiative focused on sharing “cyber threat information with the… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – Army Corps of Engineers, Defense Business Systems, Oil and Gas, USPS
ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS: Actions Needed to Further Improve Management of Hopper Dredging, GAO-14-290: Published: Apr 10, 2014. Publicly Released: May 12, 2014. CLEAR AIR FORCE STATION: Air Force Reviewed Costs and Benefits of Several Options before Deciding to Close the Power Plant, GAO-14-550: Published: May 12, 2014. Publicly Released: May 12, 2014. DEFENSE BUSINESS SYSTEMS: Further Refinements Needed to Guide the… Continue Reading
DNI Announces the Release of Additional Documents Related to Collection Activities Authorized by President George W. Bush Shortly After the Attacks of Sept. 11
[On May 5, 2014] “the Director of National Intelligence released additional documents related to the intelligence-gathering activities authorized by President George W. Bush shortly after the attacks of Sept. 11 and subsequently transitioned to authority of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. On Dec. 20, 2013, the DNI declassified and acknowledged the presidentially-authorized activities, and his public… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – Military Training, Economic Development
MILITARY TRAINING: DOD Met Annual Reporting Requirements for Its 2014 Sustainable Ranges Report, GAO-14-517: Published: May 9, 2014. Publicly Released: May 9, 2014. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Overview of GAO’s Past Work on the National Flood Insurance Program, GAO-14-297R: Published: Apr 9, 2014. Publicly Released: May 9, 2014. Continue Reading
Director of National Intelligence Requires Pre-Publication Review of all Info
Steven Aftergood, Secrecy News [snipped] : “All employees of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence are required to obtain authorization before disclosing any intelligence-related information to the public. “All ODNI personnel are required to submit all official and non-official information intended for public release for review,” says ODNI Instruction 80.04 on “Pre-publication Review of Information to… Continue Reading
China and International Law in Cyberspace
U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission Staff Report. May 6, 2014. China and International Law in Cyberspace by Kimberly Hsu, Policy Analyst, Security and Foreign Affairs with Craig Murray, Senior Policy Analyst, Security and Foreign Affairs “The Chinese government states it intends to work with the “international community to promote the building of a peaceful, secure, open, and cooperative cyberspace.”… Continue Reading
EPIC Sues Army for Information About DC Surveillance Blimps
“EPIC has filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Department of the Army for documents about JLENS, a sophisticated surveillance system that will be deployed over Washington, DC during the next three years. JLENS is comprised of two 250′ blimps. One blimp conducts aerial and ground surveillance over a 340-mile range, while the other has… Continue Reading
Defense One – Every Country Will Have Armed Drones Within Ten Years
Patrick Tucker: “Virtually every country on Earth will be able to build or acquire drones capable of firing missiles within the next ten years. Armed aerial drones will be used for targeted killings, terrorism and the government suppression of civil unrest. What’s worse, say experts, it’s too late for the United States to do anything about… Continue Reading
