[Intelforum] Secrecy News -- 05/21/12

Mon May 21 11:10:11 EDT 2012

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 2012, Issue No. 47
May 21, 2012

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

**     ARMY UPDATES OVERSIGHT OF "SENSITIVE ACTIVITIES"
**     HOUSE VOTES TO REQUIRE LEAK INVESTIGATION ON ISRAEL-IRAN INFO
**     PROLIFERATION OF PRECISION STRIKE, AND MORE FROM CRS

ARMY UPDATES OVERSIGHT OF "SENSITIVE ACTIVITIES"

In a directive issued last week, Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh
established a new Army Special Programs Directorate (ASPD) to administer
and oversee special access programs and other "sensitive activities"
conducted by the Army.

"I expect all Army commands, organizations and personnel to be proactive
in affording the ASPD and the other members of my sensitive activities
oversight team... unfettered and continuing access to any and all
information and operational data they deem necessary to accomplish their
oversight missions and functions," Secretary McHugh wrote in the May 14
Army directive 2012-10:

	http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/ad2012_10.pdf

The new Directorate is the successor organization to the former Technology
Management Office, which performed many of the same functions.

The definition of "sensitive activities" in Army Regulation 380-381
includes:  "programs that restrict personnel access [...]; sensitive
support to other Federal agencies; clandestine or covert operational or
intelligence activities; sensitive research, development, acquisition, or
contracting activities; special activities; and other activities excluded
from normal staff review and oversight because of restrictions on access to
information."

	http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/ar380-381.pdf

The Army regulation indicates that special access programs (SAPs), which
are a subset of sensitive activities, may be used to restrict access to "a
specific technology with potential for weaponization that gives the United
States a significant technical lead or tactical advantage over potential
adversaries";  "extremely sensitive activities conducted in support of
national foreign policy objectives abroad, which are planned and executed
so that the role of the U.S. Government is not apparent or acknowledged
publicly"; "methods used to acquire foreign technology or equipment"; among
other potential categories.

"SAPs are not programs or activities planned and executed with the intent
to influence U.S. political processes, public opinion, policies, or media,"
the 2004 Army regulation states.

Secretary McHugh stressed that he retained authority and responsibility
for the Army's special programs.

"I reserve the authority to review and take action on matters relating to
our Army's conduct of, or support of, the most sensitive or unusual
activities," he wrote to Army commanders and senior officials in his
directive last week.  "I expect you to exercise your judgment as to those
activities that should be forwarded for my approval even when you typically
exercise approval authority for sensitive, but otherwise routine
activities."

HOUSE VOTES TO REQUIRE LEAK INVESTIGATION ON ISRAEL-IRAN INFO

The House of Representatives last week adopted an amendment to require the
Attorney General to conduct a criminal investigation into "leaks of
sensitive information involving the military, intelligence, and operational
capabilities of the United States and Israel."

Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), who sponsored the amendment to the FY2013 defense
authorization act, cited stories based on leaks concerning a potential
Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities that were published in the New
York Times, the Washington Post, and Foreign Policy.

"Our amendment calls for the Attorney General to investigate these leaks
and bring those responsible to justice," Rep. Price said. "Trust and
cooperation are vital to securing a strong alliance and a future of peace."

No one spoke in opposition to the amendment, which was approved May 18 by
a vote of 379-38.

	http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2012_cr/price-leak.html

PROLIFERATION OF PRECISION STRIKE, AND MORE FROM CRS

New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service that
Congress has instructed CRS not to release to the public include the
following.

Proliferation of Precision Strike: Issues for Congress, May 14, 2012:

	http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/nuke/R42539.pdf

By one official reckoning, there were 35 terrorist incidents in the United
States between 2004 and 2011.  See The Domestic Terrorist Threat:
Background and Issues for Congress, May 15, 2012:

	http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/R42536.pdf

It costs $179,750 per hour to operate Air Force One, the President's
official aircraft, according to the latest cost data from the Air Force. 
See Presidential Travel: Policy and Costs, May 17, 2012:

	http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS21835.pdf

How FDA Approves Drugs and Regulates Their Safety and Effectiveness, May
18, 2012:

	http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41983.pdf

Submission of the President's Budget in Transition Years, May 17, 2012:

	http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS20752.pdf

Canadian oil sands are 14-20% more greenhouse-gas-intensive than the crude
oil they would replace in U.S. refineries.  The effect of the Keystone XL
pipeline would be to increase the U.S. greenhouse gas footprint by 3-21
million metric tons, equal to the greenhouse emissions from 588,000 to 4
million passenger vehicles.  See Canadian Oil Sands: Life-Cycle Assessments
of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, May 15, 2012:

	http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42537.pdf

Discretionary Spending in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
(ACA), May 18, 2012:

	http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41390.pdf

Economic Recovery: Sustaining U.S. Economic Growth in a Post-Crisis
Economy, May 17, 2012:

	http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41332.pdf

Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP): Implementation and Status, May 18,
2012:

	http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41427.pdf

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria: Issues for
Congress and U.S. Contributions from FY2001 to FY2013, May 15, 2012:

	http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41363.pdf

Taiwan: Major U.S. Arms Sales Since 1990, May 17, 2012:

	http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL30957.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