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From the Blogs
Court Orders FBI to Release Withheld Information:
A few years ago, the FBI invoked national security to justify
withholding certain information from a Freedom of Information Act
requester named Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler. But as rarely happens, a
court last month critically assessed the FBI national security claim and
ordered the Bureau to release some of the withheld information. Ms.
Hetzler, acting pro se (i.e. without an attorney), had
requested records concerning her deceased father, who had once been the
subject of an FBI investigation. The FBI provided her with some
records but withheld others, stating that they remained classified in
order to protect an intelligence activity.
An Updated Catalog of Army Weapon Systems:
Secrecy
News has obtained a copy of the U.S. Army's 2013 edition of its annual
Weapon Systems Handbook, which is filled with updated information on
dozens of weapon systems, the military contractors who produce them, and
the foreign countries that purchase them. An appendix provides an
informative breakdown of military industry contractors by weapon system
and by the state where the contractor is located.
Extreme Weather:
Climate change is a major discussion topic this week, with Hurricane
Sandy hitting the East Coast. In a new post on the ScienceWonk Blog, Dr.
Y writes that we have to try to find a way to reverse the effects of
global warming or to adapt to a warmer world with (possibly) more
violent weather.
Intelligence Spending Drops for a Second Year:
According to figures released this week by the Director of National
Intelligence and the Department of Defense, for the second year in a row
and for only the second time in the post-9/11 era, total intelligence
spending declined last year to $75.4 billion. Total intelligence
spending is comprised of two budget constructs: the National
Intelligence Program (NIP) and the Military Intelligence Program (MIP).
The large defense intelligence agencies — including NSA, NRO, and NGA —
receive funding through both budget
programs.
Vulnerability of Electric Power System Assessed by CRS:
Secrecy News has obtained a recently released CRS report which finds
that the U.S. electric power system is vulnerable to a variety of
threats, from natural disasters to operational errors to sabotage or
terrorist attack. Over the years there have actually been tens of
thousands of recorded attacks on electric power targets, CRS notes, but
usually due to “mischief” and with limited or no consequences.
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