Secrecy and Security News, May 2003

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Secrecy and Security News

Newer News: June 2003

May 2003

Pentagon Explores a New Frontier in the World of Virtual Intelligence by Jim Wolf (Reuters), New York Times, May 30. "The Pentagon is shopping for ways to capture everything a person sees, says and hears, as part of a project it says is meant to help create smarter robots."

Labs to keep giving polygraph tests by Andrea Widener, Contra Costa Times, May 28. "Despite a critical finding from the National Academy of Sciences, and a congressional mandate to reevaluate use of the test, the Department of Energy has stuck by the polygraph."

Blazing the trail for tech: Defense agency has a long history of exploring wild and risky ideas by Benjamin Pimentel, San Francisco Chronicle, May 26. "For the past 45 years, DARPA -- the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency -- has pursued a unique mandate: to explore ideas still in the realm of the imagination."

Nasa deal closes the door on Columbia inquiry by Jacqui Goddard, Scotland on Sunday, May 25. "Civilian members of the expert group investigating the Columbia space shuttle disaster have been put on the Nasa payroll to ensure much of the inquiry will be carried out in secret."

US intelligence agencies to review Iraq data by Edward Alden, Financial Times, May 23. "US intelligence agencies are conducting an in-depth review of the intelligence gathered on Iraq prior to the war - an undertaking that could raise questions about whether the Bush administration exaggerated evidence about Baghdad's weapons programme and its links to al-Qaeda."

Lawmakers Take Aim at Excessive Government Secrecy by Chuck McCutcheon, Newhouse News, May 20. "So many government documents are being stamped 'Top Secret,' 'Secret' or 'Confidential' these days that even lawmakers with access to classified materials complain the process has gotten out of hand."

State Monitored War Protesters by Ian Hoffman, Sean Holstege and Josh Richman, Oakland Tribune, May 18. "Days before firing wooden slugs at anti-war protesters, Oakland police were warned of 'potential violence' at the Port of Oakland by the California's anti-terrorism intelligence center, which admits blurring the line between terrorism and political dissent."

Graham 9/11 Coverup Claim Lacks Proof by Keith Epstein, Tampa Tribune, May 18. "Whether or not there is a coverup or some specific outrage, the delayed release of the document is outrageous all by itself."

Bush orders agencies to use commercial spy satellite data by Shane Harris, Government Executive, May 16. "President Bush has ordered federal agencies to make greater use of private sector high-resolution imaging satellites that take detailed pictures of objects on the ground from hundreds of miles above earth."

Bill would tighten cloak of NSA secrecy, critics say by Ariel Sabar, Baltimore Sun, May 16. "The National Security Agency, one of the country's most clandestine agencies, is seeking to cloak its activities in what critics say is another layer of secrecy."

NSA Proposal for FOIA Exemption of "Operational Files", National Security Agency handout, May 13. "NSA needs the exemption in order to prevent the continued diversion of resources from its SIGINT mission."

CIA responds to Florida lawmakers' call for terror report by Tamara Lytle, Orlando Sentinel, May 13. "Intelligence officials said Monday that they have made progress in declassifying a congressional report on the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and could finish by the end of the month."

Shuttle Panel Neutrality a Concern by Eric Pianin, Washington Post, May 12. "NASA officials arranged to make the five civilians temporary appointees of NASA after the board decided to take advantage of a provision of the law that allows boards and commissions composed exclusively of federal employees to conduct their business in secret."

Board paid to ensure secrecy by Kevin Spear, Jim Leusner and Gwyneth K. Shaw, Orlando Sentinel, May 11. "Civilian members of the board investigating the shuttle Columbia disaster -- outsiders who were added to reassure Congress and the public that the board would be fully independent of the space agency -- are actually being paid executive-level salaries by NASA."

Older News: April 2003

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