[NYTr] Secrecy News --11/08/2007

Thu Nov 8 19:16:43 EST 2007

SECRECY NEWS
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
Volume 2007, Issue No. 112
November 8, 2007

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

Support Secrecy News: http://www.fas.org/static/contrib_sec.jsp
Federal, military and postal employees can make contributions to FAS by
selecting #11539 in the Combined Federal Campaign's
national/international charity list. To earmark such a contribution for
Secrecy News, notify us so that we may allocate it properly.

**	RICHARD BARLOW AND THE PAKISTANI NUCLEAR PROGRAM
**	NATIONAL SPECIAL SECURITY EVENTS
**	MANAGING THE NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE, AND MORE FROM CRS

RICHARD BARLOW, NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND PAKISTAN

The declaration of emergency rule in Pakistan has focused new concern
on the status of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.  It may also bring renewed
attention to the case of Richard Barlow, the former intelligence officer
who attempted to warn Congress two decades ago about Pakistan's
clandestine acquisition of U.S. nuclear technology and who was punished
for his trouble.

In a classic whistleblower tale, Mr. Barlow's security clearances were
suspended, the state secrets privilege was invoked, and he was
personally vilified after he attempted to notify Congress of
irregularities and illegalities in Pakistan's U.S. acquisitions
program.  Yet his allegations about Pakistani export control violations
and official attempts to conceal those violations were ultimately
corroborated.

A summary account of Mr. Barlow's actions and experiences was presented
in one of two pending amendments introduced by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
last summer to provide belated compensation for his losses.  See:

     http://www.fas.org/sgp/congress/2007/barlow.html

Mr. Barlow's story, and much else about the clandestine development of
the Pakistani nuclear weapons program, is presented in a new book
called "Deception: Pakistan, the United States, and the Secret Trade in
Nuclear Weapons" by Adrian Levy and Catherine Scott-Clark (Walker &
Company, 2007):

     http://www.walkerbooks.com/books/catalog.php?key=690

The Congressional Research Service examined "Pakistan's Political
Crisis and State of Emergency" in a new report dated November 6, 2007:

     http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL34240.pdf

See also "Pakistan-U.S. Relations," updated October 18, 2007:

     http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33498.pdf

And "Direct Overt U.S. Aid to Pakistan, FY2001-FY2008," November 8,
2007:

     http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/pakaid.pdf

NATIONAL SPECIAL SECURITY EVENTS

National Special Security Events (NSSEs) are public events that are
deemed to require national-level security planning.  They include
Presidential inaugurations and nominating conventions, major sporting
events like the Super Bowl, and international summits.

Between September 1998 and February 2007, there have been 27 designated
NSSEs, according to a new report from the Congressional Research
Service, which helpfully tabulated them and provided as much related
background as anyone might want.

See "National Special Security Events," November 6, 2007:

     http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RS22754.pdf

MANAGING THE NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE, AND MORE FROM CRS

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

"Managing the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Policy Implications of Expanding
Global Access to Nuclear Power," November 1, 2007:

     http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/nuke/RL34234.pdf

"F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program: Background, Status, and
Issues," updated October 25, 2007:

     http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL30563.pdf

"Navy DDG-1000 Destroyer Program: Background, Oversight Issues, and
Options for Congress," updated October 25, 2007:

     http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL32109.pdf

"Operation Iraqi Freedom and Detainee Issues: Major Votes from the
110th Congress," October 22, 2007:

     http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL34172.pdf

"Journalists' Privilege: Overview of the Law and Legislation in the
109th and 110th Congresses," updated October 18, 2007:

     http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/secrecy/RL34193.pdf

"Japan-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress," updated September 27,
2007:

     http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33436.pdf

"National Emergency Powers," updated August 30, 2007:

     http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/98-505.pdf

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

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

To SUBSCRIBE to Secrecy News, go to:
     http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/subscribe.html

To UNSUBSCRIBE, go to
     http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/unsubscribe.html

OR email your request to saftergood at fas.org

Secrecy News is archived at:
     http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/index.html

SUPPORT Secrecy News with a donation here:
     http://www.fas.org/static/contrib_sec.jsp

_______________________
Steven Aftergood
Project on Government Secrecy
Federation of American Scientists
1725 DeSales St NW, 6th floor
Washington, DC  20036

web:    www.fas.org/sgp/index.html
email:  saftergood at fas.org
voice:  (202)454-4691