Feb 22
The statutes that enable the government to gain legal access to telephone records, whether for law enforcement or intelligence purposes, are examined in a newly updated report (pdf) from the Congressional Research Service.
The report also discusses prohibitions on access to, or disclosure of, such records, along with exceptions to the prohibitions. See “Government Access to Phone Calling Activity and Related Records: Legal Authorities,” updated January 25, 2007.
Some other notable CRS products obtained by Secrecy News that are not readily available in the public domain include these (all pdf):
“Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia: Security Issues and Implications for U.S. Interests,” updated February 1, 2007.
“Vienna Convention on Consular Relations: Overview of U.S. Implementation and International Court of Justice (ICJ) Interpretation of Consular Notification Requirements,” May 17, 2004.
“Pipeline Safety and Security: Federal Programs,” updated January 25, 2007.
“Russian Political, Economic, and Security Issues and U.S. Interests,” updated January 18, 2007.
“Terrorist Capabilities for Cyberattack: Overview and Policy Issues,” updated January 22, 2007.
written by Steven Aftergood
Feb 22
In a new study (pdf), the Coalition of Journalists for Open Government says that federal agencies have made little progress in improving their Freedom of Information Act programs, despite a year-old executive order directing them to become more requester friendly.
The JASON defense science advisory panel released a slightly revised unclassified summary (pdf) of its classified study on nuclear weapon pit lifetimes which concluded that most nuclear weapons primaries have “credible minimum lifetimes in excess of 100 years as regards aging of plutonium.” See Pit Lifetime, January 11, 2007.
In a careful review of the Zapruder film of the assassination of President Kennedy, Max Holland and Johann Rush propose a new way of understanding what the film does and does not reveal. See “1963: 11 Seconds in Dallas.”
PBS Frontline has been running an exceptionally interesting series called “Newswar” on current conflicts between government and the press, with an episode this week that focused on government secrecy. A website associated with the series includes transcribed interviews with dozens of national security and journalistic luminaries, and with me.
written by Steven Aftergood
