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Newer News: October 2016

September 2016 Intelligence News

• No More Snowdens? Start by Reforming the House Intelligence Committee by Daniel Schuman, Just Security, September 21. "The secretive nature of the HPSCI's work fosters an unusually tight relationship with the agencies it oversees while virtually eliminating the public-minded counterbalance of civil society organizations and democratic accountability."
• CIA Rule on Access to Classified Information by Historical Researchers and Former Government Officials, Federal Register, September 19. "CIA is providing greater clarity about the procedures under which it may provide historical researchers and certain former Government personnel with access to classified CIA information."
• In Washington, reviews of Ed Snowden, the man, remain mixed by Tara McKelvey, BBC News, September 16. "Oliver Stone's new film, Snowden, offers a fresh look at the US intelligence leaker. It could make some people change their minds about him."
• Intelligence Oversight: New Rules for a New Day by Greg Nojeim, Center for Democracy and Technology, September 13. "Congressional oversight efforts are falling short. Too many intelligence committee hearings are closed. Only three of the substantive hearings HPSCI conducted in the past two years were open to the public."
• Donald Trump and the Art of Spinning Secrets Into Lies by Mattathias Schwartz, The Intercept, September 12. "Trump was singing a familiar refrain, one that is heard whenever classified information touches political ambition. It goes like this: Trust me. You don't know what I know."
• Strange Allies in the Battle Over Government Secrets by Eli Lake, Bloomberg View, September 8. "I realize I may be in a minority of one, but I think Obama's is the most transparent administration ever."
• Remarks of DNI James Clapper, Intelligence and National Security Summit, September 7. "I don't think we'll ever see a lessening of the need for human intelligence collection. At least not in the foreseeable future, any future I can see. We're always going to need that." (via INSA)