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Newer News: July 2014

June 2014 Intelligence News

• DNI Releases Updated Budget Figure for FY 2015 Appropriations Requested for the National Intelligence Program, news release, June 30. "The updated aggregate amount of appropriations requested for the FY 2015 National Intelligence Program is $49.4 billion."
• Reporter's Case Poses Dilemma for Justice Dept. by Jonathan Mahler, New York Times, June 27. "Mr. Risen has steadfastly refused to testify. But he is now out of challenges. Early this month, the Supreme Court declined to review his case, a decision that allows prosecutors to compel his testimony. If Mr. Risen resists, he could go to prison."
• U.S. Phone Searches Expanded in 2013 by Siobhan Gorman, Wall Street Journal, June 27. "The number of phone numbers searched under the National Security Agency's phone-data surveillance program increased by 50% last year, according to a report that otherwise provides scant new information on the numbers of Americans and foreigners subject to U.S. surveillance."
• ODNI Provides Response to Sen. Wyden on Use of Section 702 Authorities, June 27. "Contrary to some claims, there is no loophole in the law, nor is the Intelligence Community conducting unlawful or 'backdoor searches' of communications of U.S. persons."
• Snail mail snooping safeguards not followed by Josh Gerstein, Politico, June 19. "The U.S. Postal Service failed to observe key safeguards on a mail surveillance program with a history of civil liberties abuses, according to a new internal watchdog report that USPS managers tried to keep secret, citing security concerns."
• Obama embraces special operations forces by Adam Serwer, MSNBC, June 18. "From the use of Navy SEAL snipers to rescue the crew of the Maersk Alabama from Somali pirates in 2009, to the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan, to the capture of a suspect in the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, the Obama administration has taken great advantage of military capabilities developed over the past thirty years."
• Conservatives turn to NSA for help getting White House records by Julian Hattem, The Hill, June 17. "In a new twist to the surveillance debate, conservative groups are asking the National Security Agency for help obtaining phone and email records about the Obama administration."
• Intelligence Community Directive 119 and the Press, NPR On the Media, June 13. "Back in April, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's website quietly posted Intelligence Community Directive 119, whose implications could be devastating for journalists. Bob speaks to Steven Aftergood about what effect this directive could have on contact between intelligence officials and the press."
• The Snowden documents: One year later, what have they changed? by Mark Clayton, Christian Science Monitor, June 5. "A year after Edward Snowden leaked the NSA documents, US foreign relations and espionage are still smarting, while advocates hail gains in government transparency. Changes to surveillance policy are less clear."
• Edward Snowden, a year on: reformers frustrated as NSA preserves its power by Spencer Ackerman, The Guardian, June 5. "For two weeks in May, it looked as though privacy advocates had scored a tenuous victory against the widespread surveillance practices exposed by Edward Snowden a year ago. Then came a resurgent intelligence community, armed with pens, and dry, legislative language."
• One Year After Edward Snowden's Leaks, Government Claims Of Damage Leave Public In Dark by Matt Sledge, Huffington Post, June 5. "U.S. officials have not been shy in claiming fallout from former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden's leaks. But the U.S. government has revealed little to back up these catastrophic-sounding generalizations, saying it wants to keep further details about its intelligence sources and methods from the public."
• Secretary of Defense Names New Director of National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, news release, June 2. "The Department of Defense announced today Robert Cardillo as the next director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). The current director, Letitia A. Long, has announced her decision to retire later this year."
• The House committee on intelligence needs oversight of its own by Rep. Rush Holt and Steven Aftergood, MSNBC, May 30. "Who watches the watchmen? For now, the truthful answer is 'nobody.' We can do better."