FAS | Intelligence | News | 2008 ||||

Newer News: May 2008

April 2008 Intelligence News

• Justice Department National Security Division Launches New Office of Intelligence, news release, April 30. "To meet the needs of multi-faceted intelligence mission, the NSD developed a new structure called the Office of Intelligence."
• Background Briefing on Syria's Covert Nuclear Reactor and North Korea's Involvement, ODNI press briefing, April 24. "Internal photographs of the reactor vessel under construction shows that it's a gas-cooled graphite-moderated reactor similar in technology and configuration to the Yongbyon reactor."
• Statement by House Intelligence Chairman Reyes on Destruction of Syrian Nuclear Facility, news release, April 24. "For eight months, I have been pressing the Bush Administration to inform the full membership of the House Intelligence Committee about these developments, which significantly impact U.S. foreign policy regarding the Middle East and North Korea."
• Agencies Use Contradictory Rules for Classifying Information by Walter Pincus, Washington Post, April 11. "U.S. intelligence agencies have contradictory rules that govern classification of information, including inconsistencies over what would constitute harm if the information were disclosed, according to a report by the director of national intelligence that was made public yesterday."
• For Many Spies, It's Not About the Money by Pamela Hess, Associated Press, April 7. "Americans who spy against the U.S. are increasingly motivated by ideology rather than by money, with nearly half of the known spies since the end of the Cold War showing allegiance to another country or cause, according to a government report."
• Espionage No Longer Pays by Dan Dupont, Danger Room, April 7. "According to a new study dug up by Secrecy News, modern-day spies -- at least the ones who get caught -- don't appear to be making much money."
• Gov't: bar classification czar, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, April 4. "Prosecutors in the classified information case against two former AIPAC staffers want to keep the defense's most potentially damaging expert witness from testifying."
• Intelligence Officials Downplay Iran Report by Rowan Scarborough, Washington Times, April 4. "There have been mixed signals coming from senior intelligence officials regarding Iran," Mr. Aftergood said. "But that's not necessarily a bad thing. It helps to remind us that intelligence officials are not omniscient, that they can be mistaken, and that sometimes they change their minds. For my part, I would rather have mixed signals and a vigorous discussion than a blank wall of secrecy."
• Inside the Black Budget by William J. Broad, New York Times, April 1. "The military has patches for almost everything it does," Mr. Paglen writes in the introduction. "Including, curiously, for programs, units and activities that are officially secret."