SECRECY NEWS
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
Volume 2008, Issue No. 58
June 12, 2008

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

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SECRECY NEWS PURGED FROM STATE DEPT HISTORY MAILING LIST

Secrecy News was removed from the distribution list for the U.S. State Department history publication "Foreign Relations of the United States" (FRUS) after we reported on errors in several FRUS volumes on March 24 and 26, 2008.

A spokesman for the State Department Historian's Office confirmed that officials had ordered the removal of Secrecy News from the FRUS mailing list in response to our critical coverage.

In an email message to the series editor yesterday, I asked the Historian's Office (HO) to reconsider its action. To do so would serve the best interests of FRUS, I suggested.

"I know that a sizable fraction of my Secrecy News mailing list (which now exceeds 13,500 self-selected subscribers) has an interest in FRUS publications. Many of those subscribers are unlikely to be part of other existing networks of academics and historians through which news of FRUS is disseminated," I wrote.

"I would also willingly publish any criticism of my own writing that HO personnel or HAC [Historical Advisory Committee] members felt was warranted."

The request to reinstate Secrecy News on the FRUS mailing list awaits a decision by the State Department Historian, Dr. Marc J. Susser.

A NEW DNI DIRECTIVE ON THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COUNCIL

The Director of National Intelligence this week issued a new Intelligence Community Directive that defines the structure and mission of the National Intelligence Council (NIC).

"The NIC consists of the senior-most intelligence analysts supporting the DNI in carrying out responsibilities as head of the IC and as the principal adviser to the President, the NSC, and the HSC for intelligence matters related to national security," the directive explains.

"The NIC produces coordinated assessments of the IC's views on critical national security issues. The NIC's flagship product is the National Intelligence Estimate, which provides the authoritative written judgments of the IC on national security issues for the United States Government."

See Intelligence Community Directive ICD-207, "National Intelligence Council," June 9, 2008:

The most recent unclassified product of the NIC that has been publicly disclosed is "Disruptive Civil Technologies: Six Technologies With Potential Impacts on US Interests Out to 2025," Conference Report, April 2008:

TUBERCULOSIS AND MORE FROM CRS

Some new reports from the Congressional Research Service that have not been made readily available to the public include the following.

"Tsunami Detection and Warnings for the United States," May 28, 2008:

"Nanotechnology: A Policy Primer," May 20, 2008:

"Nanotechnology and U.S. Competitiveness: Issues and Options," May 15, 2008:

"The Army's M-4 Carbine: Background and Issues for Congress," May 30, 2008:

"Tuberculosis: International Efforts and Issues for Congress," updated May 1, 2008:

"Russia's Economic Performance and Policies and Their Implications for the United States," May 30, 2008:

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

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