SECRECY NEWS
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
Volume 2018, Issue No. 69
November 29, 2018

Secrecy News Blog: https://fas.org/blogs/secrecy/

US SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA, AND MORE FROM CRS

The US has imposed several categories of sanctions on Russia in response to malicious or objectionable Russian activity. A new report from the Congressional Research Service provides an overview of US sanction tools and authorities, and their application to the case of Russia. It also discusses the various sanction regimes, their targets, their effectiveness, and the countersanctions that Russia has introduced. See U.S. Sanctions on Russia, November 28, 2018:

Other new and updated products from the Congressional Research Service include the following.

Iran Sanctions, updated November 28, 2018:

The "National Security Exception" and the World Trade Organization, CRS Legal Sidebar, November 28, 2018:

U.S. Tariff Policy: Overview, CRS In Focus, November 28, 2018:

District Court Temporarily Blocks Implementation of Asylum Restrictions on Unlawful Entrants at the Southern Border, CRS Legal Sidebar, November 27, 2018:

The Venezuela Regional Migration Crisis, CRS In Focus, November 27, 2018:

Brexit at a Pivotal Moment, CRS Insight, November 28, 2018:

Revisiting the Doubling Effort: Trends in Federal Funding for Basic Research in the Physical Sciences and Engineering, CRS Insight, November 27, 2018:

Administration of the House of Representatives: Actions Taken During a New Congress and Following a Majority Change, CRS In Focus, November 26, 2018:

Electing the Speaker of the House of Representatives: Frequently Asked Questions, updated November 26, 2018:

Defense Primer: Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, CRS In Focus, updated November 14, 2018:

Defense Primer: RDT&E, CRS In Focus, updated November 13, 2018:

Defense Primer: Congress's Constitutional Authority with Regard to the Armed Forces, CRS In Focus, updated November 13, 2018:

Defense Primer: Legal Authorities for the Use of Military Forces, CRS In Focus, updated November 13, 2018:

DOD SAYS US, TURKEY ON A COLLISION COURSE

Turkey's pending procurement of a Russian surface to air missile system would jeopardize its status in NATO, and disrupt other aspects of US military relations with that country, the Department of Defense told Congress.

"The U.S. Government has made clear to the Turkish Government that purchasing the S-400 [surface to air missile system] would have unavoidable negative consequences for U.S.-Turkey bilateral relations, as well as Turkey's role in NATO," DoD said in an unclassified summary of a classified report to Congress.

See DoD report to Congress on Status of the U.S. Relationship with the Republic of Turkey (unclassified summary), November 2018:

The report was obtained and reported by Bloomberg News. See "Turkey's F-35 Role at Risk If It Buys From Russia, Pentagon Warns" by Tony Capaccio, November 28, 2018.

RELIGIOUS SUPPORT TO MILITARY FUNERALS

The US Army has issued updated guidance on military funerals that notably emphasizes freedom of religion and individual choice.

"The Army requires the capability to provide RS [religious support] across austere and isolated locations which accommodates service members' right to the free exercise of religion and supports resiliency efforts to sustain service members in combat."

"RS is comprehensive because every individual personally defines what constitutes RS. While not every religious need of every Soldier can be met, chaplains and religious affairs specialists seek to meet as many needs as possible."

"Due to the religious diversity of the nation and Army, all chaplains must know the funeral practices and religious requirements of various faith groups in the military."

"Wherever they are conducted, and regardless of the tasks or order of events, military funerals and memorial events pay tribute to those who have honorably served the nation. Each final tribute draws from national, military, and religious traditions, not routinely nor impersonally, but profoundly and with compassion."

See Religious Support to Funerals and Memorial Events, ATP 1-05.02, November 2018:

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

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