[Intelforum] Secrecy News -- 04/04/11

Mon Apr 4 11:04:31 EDT 2011

Format Note:  If you cannot easily read the text below, or you prefer to
receive Secrecy News in another format, please reply to this email to let
us know.

SECRECY NEWS
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
Volume 2011, Issue No. 31
April 4, 2011

Secrecy News Blog:  http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/

**     CRS VIEWS DECLINE OF CENTRAL AMERICAN SECURITY
**     THE TACTICAL CHALLENGES OF MOUNTAIN WARFARE

CRS VIEWS DECLINE OF CENTRAL AMERICAN SECURITY

Violent instability in Central America poses a growing threat to the
countries of the region, with direct and indirect consequences for the
United States, according to a new report from the Congressional Research
Service.

"The seven nations of Central America face significant security
challenges. Well-financed and heavily armed criminal threats, fragile
political and judicial systems, and persistent social hardships such as
poverty and unemployment contribute to widespread insecurity in the region.
The United States has allocated $260 million in security assistance to
support Central America since FY2008 under what is now known as the Central
America Regional Security Initiative; however, security conditions have
continued to deteriorate," the CRS report said.

A copy of the report was obtained by Secrecy News.  See "Central America
Regional Security Initiative: Background and Policy Issues for Congress,"
March 30, 2011:

	http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41731.pdf

Other noteworthy new CRS reports include the following.

"The Japanese Nuclear Incident: Technical Aspects," March 31, 2011:

	http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41728.pdf

"Nuclear Power Plant Sites: Maps of Seismic Hazards and Population
Centers," March 29, 2011:

	http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41729.pdf

"Japan's 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami: Economic Effects and Implications
for the United States," March 25, 2011:

	http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41702.pdf

"Funeral Protests: Selected Federal Laws and Constitutional Issues," March
22, 2011:

	http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41717.pdf

"War in Afghanistan: Strategy, Military Operations, and Issues for
Congress," March 9, 2011:

	http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R40156.pdf

THE TACTICAL CHALLENGES OF MOUNTAIN WARFARE

The challenges of conducting military operations in a mountainous
environment are addressed in a new U.S. Army manual.

In the mountains, "small mistakes can lead to catastrophic events," while
"technological supremacy can be negated by even the most crude and
non-technical enemy actions," the new manual said.

Therefore, "Mountain combat calls for extreme physical fitness, mental
toughness, endurance, and the utmost in tactical and technical proficiency
on the part of all individuals."  With proper leadership and preparation,
"the physical characteristics of mountains can support and enhance
offensive operations."

See Army Tactics Techniques Procedures (ATTP) 3-21.50, "Infantry
Small-Unit Mountain Operations," February 28, 2011.

	http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/attp3-21-50.pdf

_______________________________________________
Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the
Federation of American Scientists.

The Secrecy News Blog is at:
     http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/

To SUBSCRIBE to Secrecy News, go to:
     http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/subscribe.html

To UNSUBSCRIBE, go to
     http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/unsubscribe.html

OR email your request to saftergood at fas.org

Secrecy News is archived at:
     http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/index.html

Support the FAS Project on Government Secrecy with a donation:
     http://www.fas.org/member/donate_today.html

_______________________
Steven Aftergood
Project on Government Secrecy
Federation of American Scientists
web:    www.fas.org/sgp/index.html
email:  saftergood at fas.org
voice:  (202) 454-4691
twitter: @saftergood