Secrecy and Security News
Newer News: February 2012
January 2012
- U.S. secrecy system "literally out of control" by Justin Elliott, Salon, January 31. "Several pieces of news about government secrecy emerged this week that show just how far away the United States has gotten from the principle of open government. The secrecy system is beyond control of the president."
- CIA Claims Publication of Bin Laden Death Photos Would 'Trigger Violence' by David Kravets, Wired Threat Level, January 30. The Central Intelligence Agency says releasing images of a dead Osama bin Laden "could trigger violence, attacks, or acts of revenge against the United States."
- The spy who was undone by his email by Jack Shafer, Reuters, January 27. "Drawing on correspondence obtained via search warrants served on two email accounts associated with Kiriakou, the government has charged him with illegally giving up the identity of a covert officer, disclosing classified secrets and lying to the CIA."
- Ex-CIA official accused of leaks by Shaun Waterman, Washington Times, January 24. "The Obama administration is using a century-old anti-spying law to prosecute federal workers for leaking secrets to the media, drawing criticism that the law is draconian and the prosecutions are chilling efforts to report news."
- The Afghan War: Cause and Effect by Mark Thompson, Time Battleland, January 24. "More than half of Americans want the U.S. to pull its remaining 90,000 troops out of Afghanistan 'as soon as possible,' according to a Pew survey released Monday."
- Former CIA officer charged in leaks case by Greg Miller, Washington Post, January 23. "The Justice Department on Monday charged a former CIA officer with repeatedly leaking classified information, including the identities of agency operatives involved in the capture and interrogation of alleged terrorists."
- Ex-CIA officer charged in leak case by Jerry Seper, Washington Times, January 23. "A former CIA officer was charged Monday in federal court with leaking classified information to the media about two other CIA officers, including disclosing the name and contact information of one involved in the capture of al Qaeda terrorist Abu Zubaydah."
- Ex-CIA officer charged with disclosing classified information by Ken Dilanian, Los Angeles Times, January 23. "Former CIA officer John Kiriakou could face decades in prison if convicted. He is accused of providing secrets to reporters, according to a federal criminal complaint."
- Former CIA Officer John Kiriakou Charged with Leaking Classified Information, news release, January 23. "A former CIA officer, John Kiriakou, was charged today with repeatedly disclosing classified information to journalists, including the name of a covert CIA officer and information revealing the role of another CIA employee in classified activities, Justice Department officials announced."
- Wikileaks' 16th minute by Jack Shafer, Reuters Magazine, January 17. "instead of flourishing, as Assange had predicted, WikiLeaks all but vaporized in its 16th minute of fame: Its auteur was shackled with a security bracelet, fighting extradition to Sweden, where authorities want to question him regarding charges of sexual assault; WikiLeaks members and allies, alienated by the dictatorial Assange, had abandoned him; and leakers were no longer making their substantial deposits in WikiLeaks computers."
- Ten Must-Read National Security Blogs by Mike Jones, ClearanceJobs.com, January 16. "Blogs are not just for online diarists, they are a medium for professionals to discuss and exchange information about their fields. Nowhere is this truer than in the national security community. Everyday national security practitioners, researchers, writers, and reporters use blogs to publish news, analysis, and commentary on issues ranging from counterinsurgency doctrine to Chinese naval developments."
- National Defense Authorization Act for FY2012: Excerpts on Unmanned Aircraft Systems, December 12, 2011.
Older News: December 2011