National Strategy for Information Sharing released

The White House released its latest national strategy document today.

The National Strategy for Information Sharing can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/infosharing/index.html
or as a PDF athttp://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/infosharing/NSIS_book.pdf

The Factsheet is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/10/20071031-10.html

New DSB report - Foreign Influence on DoD Software

The Defense Science Board (DSB) has posted a new report.

The report on Mission Impact of Foreign Influence on DoD Software can be found at
http://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports/2007-09-Mission_Impact_of_Foreign_Influence_on_DoD_Software.pdf

According to the memorandum of endorsement by Dr. Schneider, this report
"was established to complement the 2005 DSB study on High Performance
Microchip Supply which focused on the implications of semiconductor
fabrication in foreign countries. The task force found that the DoD
faces similar consequences from the possible exploitation of software,
increasingly developed outside of the United States, it its systems."

The 2005 report can be found at
http://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports/2005-02-HPMS_Report_Final.pdf

These and other DSB reports can be found at http://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports.htm

Friday's Miscellany for 10-26-2007

Items of Interest [with thanks to the IDA Library for some of the links]

American Enterprise Institute (AEI)

• A World without the U.S.-ROK Alliance: Thinking about "Alternative Futures." http://www.aei.org/publications/pubID.27018,filter.foreign/pub_detail.asp

Amnesty International

• Democratic Republic of Congo: Torture and Killings by State Security Agents Still Endemic. http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR620122007
• Occupied Palestinian Territories: Torn apart by Factional Strife.
  http://web.amnesty.org/library/pdf/MDE210202007ENGLISH/$File/MDE2102007.pdf
• Russian Federation: Update Briefing: What Progress Has Been Made Since May 2006 to Tackle Violent Racism? http://web.amnesty.org/library/pdf/EUR460472007ENGLISH/$File/EUR4604707.pdf
• OBSTRUCTION AND DELAY: Peacekeepers needed in Darfur now.
  http://web.amnesty.org/library/pdf/AFR540062007ENGLISH/$File/AFR5400607.pdf

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

• Arab Political Systems: Baseline Information and Reforms. http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=16918&prog=zgp&proj=zdrl,zme
• The Political Economy of Reform in Egypt: Understanding the Role of Institutions. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/cmec5_alissa_egypt_final.pdf

Center for Defense Information (CDI)

• America's Antiquated New Cruise Missile.
  http://www.cdi.org/program/document.cfm?DocumentID=4125&from_page=../index.cfm

Centre for Military and Strategic Studies (CMSS) and the Institute of World Affairs (IWA)

• Side by Side or Together?: Working for Security, Development & Peace in Afghanistan and Liberia. Workshop report. http://www.ucalgary.ca/pdsp/files/pdsp/sidebysideortogether_oct2007.pdf

Center for Security Policy

• Chinese Information Warfare.
  http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/modules/newsmanager/center%20publication%20pdfs/perry%20china%20iw.pdf
• Fujimori: The Other Side of the Story, Part I. http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/home.aspx?sid=140&categoryid=140&subcategoryid=142
• Happy Birthday, UN. http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/home.aspx?sid=140&categoryid=140&subcategoryid=141
• Islamic Finance or Financing Islamism? http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/modules/newsmanager/center%20publication%20pdfs/alexiev%20islamic%20finance.pdf

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

• Afghanistan, Iraq & Self-Inflicted Wounds: The Strategic Lessons of Nation Building. http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/071016_lessofiraqafghan.pdf
• The Israeli "Nuclear Reactor Strike" and Syrian Weapons of Mass Destruction: A Background Analysis. http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/071024_syriannucl_weapcontext.pdf
• Pandora's Box: Iraqi Federalism, Separatism, "Hard" Partitioning ad US Policy. http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/10242007_iraqhardpartition.pdf

Congress. House. Oversight Committee. National Security and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee.

• Six Years Later: Assessing Long-Term Threats, Risks and the U.S.
  Strategy for Security in a Post-9/11 World. Hearing transcript. http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/10-10-2007-jtmtranscript1.pdf

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

• Estimated Costs of U.S. Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and of Other Activities Related to the War on Terrorism. http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdoc.cfm?index=8690&type=1

Foreign Policy Institute

• China Rising: Assessing China’s Economic And Military Power. http://www.fpri.org/enotes/200710.delisle.chinarising.html

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

• Climate Change Research: Agencies Have Data-Sharing Policies but Could Do More to Enhance the Availability of Data from Federally Funded Research. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d071172.pdf
• Drug Control: U.S. Assistance Has Helped Mexican Counternarcotics Efforts, but the Flow of Illicit Drugs into the United States Remains High. Testimony. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08215t.pdf
• Information Technology: Improvements for Acquisition of Customs Trade Processing System Continue, but Further Efforts Needed to Avoid More Cost and Schedule Shortfalls. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d0846.pdf
• Internet Infrastructure: Challenges in Developing a Public/Private Recovery Plan. Testimony. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08212t.pdf
• Project BioShield: Actions Needed to Avoid Repeating Past Mistakes. Testimony. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08208t.pdf
• Project Bioshield: Actions Needed to Avoid Repeating Past Problems with Procuring New Anthrax Vaccine and Managing the Stockpile of Licensed Vaccine.
  http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d0888.pdf
• Secure Border Initiative: Observations on Selected Aspects of SBInet Program Implementation. Testimony. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08131t.pdf
• Terrorist Watch List Screening: Opportunities Exist to Enhance Management Oversight, Reduce Vulnerabilities in Agency Screening Processes, and Expand Use of the List. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08110.pdf
• Terrorist Watch List Screening: Recommendations to Enhance Management Oversight, Reduce Potential Screening Vulnerabilities, and Expand Use of the List. Testimony. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08194t.pdf

Heritage Foundation

• Does the United Nations Advance the Cause of Freedom?.
  http://www.heritage.org/Research/InternationalOrganizations/upload/hl_1047.pdf
• Argentina: Implications for the U.S. If First Lady Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Becomes President. http://www.heritage.org/Research/LatinAmerica/wm1678.cfm
• Does the United Nations Advance the Cause of Freedom?.http://www.heritage.org/Research/InternationalOrganizations/upload/hl_1047.pdf
• Why Reagan Would Still Reject the Law of the Sea. Treaty. http://www.heritage.org/Research/InternationalOrganizations/upload/wm_1676.pdf

Human Rights Watch

• UK: Counter the Threat or Counterproductive?: Commentary on Proposed Counterterrorism Measures. http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/eca/uk1007/uk1007web.pdf
• Renewed Crisis in North Kivu, Congo. http://hrw.org/reports/2007/drc1007/drc1007webwcover.pdf

Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS)

• ISIS Imagery Brief: Syria Update: Suspect Reactor Site Dismantled. http://www.isis-online.org/publications/SyriaUpdate25October2007.pdf
• ISIS Imagery Brief: Suspect Reactor Construction Site in Eastern Syria: The Site of the September 6 Israeli Raid? http://www.isis-online.org/publications/SuspectSite_24October2007.pdf

International Crisis Group

• Pakistan: The Forgotten Conflict in Balochistan. http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5131&l=1
• Southern Thailand: The Problem with Paramilitaries. http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5132&l=1

Iraqanalysis.org

• Financial Cost of War. http://www.iraqanalysis.org/info/224

Jamestown Foundation

• Russia’s Race for the Arctic and the New Geopolitics of the North Pole. http://www.jamestown.org/docs/Jamestown-BaevRussiaArctic.pdf

Lexington Institute

• New Maritime Strategy: Three Cheers, and Three Complaints. Lexington Institute. http://lexingtoninstitute.org/1189.shtml

Rand

• The Compleat Strategyst: Being a Primer on the Theory of Games of Strategy. http://www.rand.org/pubs/commercial_books/2007/RAND_CB113-1.pdf
• Human Trafficking in Ohio: Markets, Responses, and Considerations. http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2007/RAND_MG689.pdf
• Women and Human Security: The Case of Post Conflict Afghanistan. http://www.rand.org/pubs/reprints/2007/RAND_RP1291.pdf

Strategic Studies Institute

• The Military Strategy of Global Jihad. http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?pubID=809

United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan

• Suicide Attacks in Afghanistan (2001-2007). http://www.unama-afg.org/docs/_UN-Docs/UNAMA%20-%20SUICIDE%20ATTACKS%20STUDY%20-%20SEPT%209th%202007.pdf

United States Institute of Peace (USIP)

• USIP Working Paper: Disabling DPRK Nuclear Facilities. Institute for Science and International Security. http://www.usip.org/pubs/working_papers/wp5_dprk.pdf

Washington Institute for Near East Policy

• Larijani's Resignation: Implications for Iranian Nuclear Policy and Internal Politics. http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2672
• FBI: Transforming U.S. Efforts to Fight Transnational Terrorist Networks. http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2671
• Promoting Arab Democracy (or Not): What the Past Should Tell Us about the Future (Part II). http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2670
• The PKK and the Armenian Genocide Resolution: U.S.-Turkish Relations at a Critical Juncture. http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2669

REPORT - Cost of the War in Iraq/Afghanistan

As reported in the news this morning, here's the link to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report on the estimated costs of the war so far. This is from the testimony of CBO Director Peter Orszag submitted to the House Committee on the Budget.

Testimony on Estimated Costs of U.S. Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and of Other Activities Related to the War on Terrorism, October 24, 2007
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdoc.cfm?index=8690&type=1

REPORT: Homeland Security Academic Environment

A new report on the growing and changing nature of the HS Academic Environment.

The Homeland Security Academic Environment: A Review of Current Activities and Issues for Considerationhttps://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=689153
written by John Rollins and Joseph Rowan for the Homeland Security and Defense Education Consortium (HSDEC).

Executive Summary

The Homeland Security and Defense Education Consortium (HSDEC) requested a report that reviewed the academic programs that now comprise the homeland security academic environment. Publicly available data was gathered and this information formed the basis of the analytic judgments contained in this report. The schools and programs listed, and their accompanying information, are the product of interaction with homeland security consortiums, discussions with academic colleagues, review of school brochures and online material, and receipt of university press releases.

The homeland security academic discipline is currently an evolving ungoverned environment of numerous programs purporting to prepare students for various positions of responsibility. Many of today’s homeland security offerings are an amalgam of pre-9/11 programs and courses that have since been revised to reflect some undetermined level of education and instruction in homeland security issues. Homeland security programs can take numerous forms including: certificate, associates, bachelor, masters, and doctoral. While commonalties do exist in the course offerings of many of these programs, it appears many programs were established using current institutional courses that have since been revised to address homeland security related issues. As the discipline continues to mature, program commonalities, core teaching areas, and course standardization may emerge that shape the homeland security academic environment and produce graduates conversant on a standard set of homeland security topics. Many in the profession of homeland security seek such standardization; however, some members of the academic community and other homeland security professionals are concerned that the diversity of issues related to the discipline does not lend itself to identifiable core teachings. Using homeland security topics as the foundation, some in the academic community have suggested emphasis on teaching critical analytic thinking skills and imaginative approaches to problem solving rather than focusing on contemporary security-related issues.

Based on a review of the available data it does not appear that the homeland security academic environment has matured to the point that common core courses are being taught at any level of higher education. To date, formal program or course recommendations have not been offered to the bodies currently supporting homeland security academic development. The DHS University System was recently established to address training and education efforts for current Departmental employees. As this System matures, it is possible that DHS will attempt to identify homeland security areas of focus that could form the core of future academic offerings. However, before there is agreement and recognition of homeland security as an academic undertaking, there needs to be acceptance and an understanding of the discipline as a profession.

Most homeland security practitioners and academicians agree that greater attention is needed to the role and utility of homeland security as a permanent and well-understood discipline. Many agree that in order for the field to mature the homeland security environment must be further defined which in turn would support the development of core educational objectives.

Friday's Miscellany for 10-19-2007

Items of Interest

American Enterprise Institute (AEI)

• The Chinese People's Liberation Army and Space Warfare: Emerging United States-China Military Competition. http://www.aei.org/publications/pubID.26977,filter.foreign/pub_detail.asp
• Counterinsurgency in Pakistan: Learning from India. http://www.aei.org/publications/pubID.26888/pub_detail.asp
• Terrorist Threats in the Horn of Africa: A Net Assessment. http://www.aei.org/publications/pubID.26568/pub_detail.asp

Amnesty International

• Lebanon: Exiled and Suffering: Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon. http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE180102007
• A Global Arms Trade Treaty: What States Want. http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGPOL340042007

Brookings Institute

• Issues in the U.S.-Russia Economic Relationship. http://www.brookings.edu/testimony/2007/1017russia.aspx
• Upgrading Authoritarianism in the Arab World. http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/papers/2007/10arabworld/10arabworld.pdf

Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Institute

• Canada as the "Emerging Energy Superpower": Testing the Case. http://www.cdfai.org/PDF/CDFAIConference2007.pdf

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

• Arab Reform Bulletin: October 2007. http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/octoberfullissue.pdf

Center for Catastrophe Preparedness & Response (CCPR)

• The Stafford Act: Priorities for Reform. http://www.nyu.edu/ccpr/pubs/Report_StaffordActReform_MitchellMoss_10.03.07.pdf

Center for Security Policy

• Nonproliferation, Deterrence, and Nuclear Strategy. http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/modules/newsmanager/center%20publication%20pdfs/non-proliferation%20monroe.pdf

Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA)

• Of IEDs and MRAPs: Force Protection in Complex Irregular Operations. Report. http://www.csbaonline.org/4Publications/PubLibrary/R.20071017.Of_IEDs_and_MRAPs/R.20071017.Of_IEDs_and_MRAPs.pdf
• Of IEDs and MRAPs: Force Protection in Complex Irregular Operations. Slides. http://www.csbaonline.org/4Publications/PubLibrary/S.20071017.Of_IEDs_and_MRAPs/S.20071017.Of_IEDs_and_MRAPs.pdf

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

• The Armenian Genocide Bill and the Turkish Reaction in Iraq. http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/071015_genocidebillturkishreaction.pdf
• Combating the Twin Epidemics of HIV/AIDS and Addiction. http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/071016_fiellin.pdf
• The Embassy of the Future. http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/embassy_of_the_future.pdf
• Health Worker Shortages Challenge PEPFAR Options for Strengthening Health Systems. http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/071016_healthworker.pdf
• HIV in Russia: Commitment, Resources, Momentum, Challenges. http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/071016_russiahivaids.pdf
• Iraq, Afghanistan, and Self-Inflicted Wounds: Strategic Lessons of Armed Nation Building. http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/071016_lessofiraqafghan.pdf
• Making HIV Prevention Paramount in the Next Phase of the U.S. Global HIV/AIDS Response. http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/071016_preventionpepfar.pdf
• The Struggle for “Pashtunistan”: The Afghan-Pakistan War. http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/101607_pashtunistan.pdf

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

• Issues Regarding the Current and Future Use of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet. http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdoc.cfm?index=8656&type=1
• Testimony on Projecting the Costs to Care for Veterans of U.S. Military Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/87xx/doc8710/10-17-VA-Admin_Testimony.pdf

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

• Assigning Air Traffic Control Costs to Users: Elements of FAA's Methodology Are Generally Consistent with Standards but Certain Assumptions and Methods Need Additional Support. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d0876.pdf
• Aviation Security: DHS Has Made Progress in Securing the Commercial Aviation System, but Key Challenges Remain. Testimony. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08139t.pdf
• Critical Infrastructure Protection: Multiple Efforts to Secure Control Systems Are Under Way, but Challenges Remain. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d071036.pdf
• Critical Infrastructure Protection: Multiple Efforts to Secure Control Systems Are Under Way, but Challenges Remain. Testimony. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08119t.pdf
• Department of Homeland Security: Challenges in Implementing the Improper Payments Information Act and Recovering Improper Payments. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07913.pdf
• Department of Homeland Security: Risk Assessment and Enhanced Oversight Needed to Manage Risk of Contracting for Selected Services. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07990.pdf
• Department of Homeland Security: Risk Assessment and Enhanced Oversight Needed to Manage Reliance on Contractors. Testimony. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08142t.pdf
• Immigration Enforcement: ICE Could Improve Controls to Help Guide Alien Removal Decision Making. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d0867.pdf
• Maritime Security: One Year Later--A Progress Report on the SAFE Port Act. Testimony. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08171t.pdf
• State Department: Evacuation Planning and Preparations for Overseas Posts Can Be Improved. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d0823.pdf
• State Department: Survey of Overseas Posts' Emergency Action Committees on Planning, Preparing for, and Conducting Evacuations. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d0824sp.pdf
• Transportation Security: Efforts to Strengthen Aviation and Surface Transportation Security Are Under Way, but Challenges Remain. Testimony. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08140t.pdf

Heritage Foundation

• Criticizing Success? The Test of the Long-Range Missile Defense System. http://www.heritage.org/Research/HomelandDefense/upload/wm_1664.pdf
• Enhancing International Collaboration for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism. http://www.heritage.org/Research/HomelandDefense/bg2078.cfm
• Modernize FISA, But Don’t Hobble American Intelligence Operations. http://www.heritage.org/Research/HomelandDefense/wm1666.cfm
• Revitalizing U.S. Efforts in Afghanistan. http://www.heritage.org/Research/MiddleEast/upload/bg_2076.pdf

Human Right Watch

• Protecting the Killers: A Policy of Impunity in Punjab, India. http://hrw.org/reports/2007/india1007/india1007webwcover.pdf
• No Room to Breathe: State Repression of Human Rights Activism in Syria. http://hrw.org/reports/2007/syria1007/syria1007webwcover.pdf

International Crisis Group (ICG)

• Serbia: Maintaining Peace in the Presevo Valley. http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5126&l=1
• Sudan: Breaking the Abyei Deadlock. http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5122&l=1

Jamestown Foundation

• The Rising Dragon: SCO Peace Mission 2007. http://www.jamestown.org/docs/Jamestown-McDermottRisingDragon.pdf

Office of the Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR)

• Review of the Effectiveness of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Iraq. http://www.sigir.mil/reports/pdf/audits/07-015.pdf

Rand

• The Civil-Military Gap in the United States: Does It Exist, Why, and Does It Matter? http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2007/RAND_MG379.pdf
• Families Under Stress—An Assessment of Data, Theory and Research on Marriage and Divorce in the Military. http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2007/RAND_MG599.pdf
• Schools Not Sustaining Mental Health Aid to Children Displaced by Hurricane Katrina. http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9291/index1.html

Reform Institute

• Containing the Threat: Protecting the Global Supply Chain Through Enhanced Cargo Container Security. http://www.reforminstitute.org/uploads/publications/Container_Security_Final_10-02-07_(in_template).pdf
• From the Storefront to the Front Lines: The Private Sector and Homeland Security Investment. http://www.reforminstitute.org/uploads/publications/TechReport_OCT12.pdf

Strategic Studies Institute (Army War College)

• The Army and Defense Resource Allocation: The Bronze Medal Ain't Good Enough in a Three-Man Race. http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?pubID=794
• Strategy, National Interests, and Means to an End. http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?pubID=802

US Navy

• A Cooperative Strategy for the 21st Century Seapower. http://www.navy.mil/maritime/MaritimeStrategy.pdf

Washington Institute for Near East Policy

• Promoting Arab Democracy (or Not): What the Past Should Tell Us about the Future (Part I). http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2668

White House

• Public Health and Medical Preparedness. HSPD-21. [Homeland Security Presidential Directive]http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/10/20071018-10.html

Public Health and Medical Preparedness -- HSPD-21

The White House released its latest Homeland Security Presidential
Directive.

HSPD-21 is for Public Health and Medical Preparedness. Its
stated purpose is that "establishes a National Strategy for Public
Health and Medical Preparedness (Strategy), which builds upon principles
set forth in Biodefense for the 21st Century (April 2004) and will
transform our national approach to protecting the health of the American
people against all disasters."

It can be found at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/10/20071018-10.html

New Maritime Strategy

The Navy, the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard have released a new cooperative Maritime Strategy. The report entitled “A Cooperative Strategy for the 21st Century Seapower” was released at the International Seapower Symposium at the Naval War College today.

The report can be found at http://www.navy.mil/maritime/MaritimeStrategy.pdf or from main site http://www.navy.mil/maritime/.

A video of the conference can be found at http://www.navy.mil/media/video/live/newport-webcast.asx

REPORT -- Intelligence Community 500 day plan

The DNI has released its 500 Day Plan as a continuation to its process for integration and collaboration amongst the members of the Intelligence Community.

The new plan -- United States Intelligence Community (IC) 500 Day Plan for Integration and Collaboration is available at
http://dni.gov/500-day-plan/500-day-plan.pdf

The previous plans can be found as follows:

100 Day plan
http://dni.gov/100-day-plan/100-day-plan.pdf

• Press Release
  http://dni.gov/press_releases/20070411_release.pdf

100 Day Plan Follow-up
http://dni.gov/100-day-plan/100_FOLLOW_UP_REPORT.pdf

• Press Release
  http://dni.gov/press_releases/20070913_release.pdf

Friday's Miscellany for 10-12-2007

Items of Interest

Amnesty International

• China: Legacy of the Beijing Olympics - China's Choice: Media Kit. http://web.amnesty.org/library/pdf/ASA170432007ENGLISH/$File/ASA1704307.pdf
  
• Burundi: No Protection from Rape in War and Peace. Amnesty International. http://web.amnesty.org/library/pdf/AFR160022007ENGLISH/$File/AFR1600207.pdf

BASIC (British American Security Information Council)

• The Real Cost Behind Trident Replacement and the Carriers. http://www.basicint.org/nuclear/beyondtrident/cost.pdf

Brookings Institution

• Breaking the Lines: Sarkozy's Presidential Campaign. http://www3.brookings.edu/comm/events/20071004.pdf

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

• Corruption Threatens China’s Future. http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/pb55_pei_china_corruption_final.pdf

Center for American Progress (CAP)

• Afghanistan, Six Years Later: Success Is Within Reach (Video). http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/10/forgotten_front.html
• The Forgotten Mission in Afghanistan Can Succeed. Here’s How. http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/10/afghanistan_memo.html

Center for Defense Information (CDI)

• A Bankrupt Strategy Mandates Fundamental Reform.
  http://www.cdi.org/program/document.cfm?DocumentID=4118&from_page=../index.cfm

James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (MIIS CNS)

• CNS Researcher Speaks on Nuclear Terrorism at Russian Duma. http://www.cns.miis.edu/pubs/week/071005.htm

Center for Security Policy

• A Navy LOST?
  http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/home.aspx?sid=140&categoryid=140&subcategoryid=141
  Pakistani Nightmare.
  http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/home.aspx?sid=140&categoryid=140&subcategoryid=142

Combating Terrorism Center (USMA)

• Cracks in the Foundation: Leadership Schisms in al-Qa’ida from 1989-2006. http://www.ctc.usma.edu/aq/aq3.asp

Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS)

• Pandora’s Box: Iraqi Federalism, Separatism, “Hard” Partitioning and US Policy. http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/071009_pandorasbox.pdf
  Political, Military and Economic Dynamics in Iraq: A Graphic Overview. http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/071005_iraqoverview.pdf

Government Accounting Office (GAO)

• Improvement Continues in DOD's Reporting on Sustainable Ranges, but Opportunities Exist to Improve Its Range Assessments and Comprehensive Plan. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d0810r.pdf
• Stabilizing and Rebuilding Iraq: U.S. Ministry Capacity Development Efforts Need an Overall Integrated Strategy to Guide Efforts and Manage Risk.
  http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08117.pdf

Heritage Foundation

• Congress Must Implement CSC Treaty to Reinvigorate U.S. Nuclear Industry. http://www.heritage.org/Research/EnergyandEnvironment/upload/wm_1658.pdf
  New Homeland Security Strategy Misses the Mark. http://www.heritage.org/Research/HomelandDefense/upload/wm_1659.pdf

Hudson Institute

• Understanding the Mission of U.S International Broadcasting. http://www.hudson.org/files/pdf_upload/52693_McCormick.pdf

Human Rights Watch

• Criminal Politics: Violence, "Godfathers" and Corruption in Nigeria. http://hrw.org/reports/2007/nigeria1007/nigeria1007webwcover.pdf

Federation of International Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies’ Operational Update

• 
  Mideast—Population Displaced from Iraq. http://www.ifrc.org/docs/appeals/07/MDR8100201.pdf

International Crisis Group

• Colombia: Moving Forward with the ELN? http://www.crisisgroup.org/library/documents/latin_america/b16_colombia_eln.pdf

Lexington Institute

• A Quick, Cheap Way to Help Soldiers Survive in Iraq.
  http://lexingtoninstitute.org/1184.shtml

Oxfam International & the International Action Network on Small Arms

• Africa’s Missing Billions: International Arms Flows and the Cost of Conflict. http://www.saferworld.org.uk/images/pubdocs/bp107_Africa's%20missing%20billions%20paper_FINAL%20ENGLISH_041007.pdf

Rand

• American and Iranian Public Opinion: The Quest for Common Grounds. http://www.rand.org/pubs/reprints/2007/RAND_RP1261.pdf
• Assessing the Assignment Policy for Army Women. http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2007/RAND_MG590-1.pdf
• A Capabilities-Based Strategy for Army Security Cooperation. http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2007/RAND_MG563.pdf
• The Dynamic Retention Model for Air Force Officers: New Estimates and Policy Simulations of the Aviator Continuation Pay Program. http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/2007/RAND_TR470.pdf
• Entering the Dragon's Lair: Chinese Antiaccess Strategies and Their Implications for the United States. http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2007/RAND_MG524.pdf
• The Federal Role in Terrorism Insurance: Evaluating Alternatives in an Uncertain World. http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2007/RAND_MG679.pdf
• Installation Mapping Enables Many Missions: The Benefits of and Barriers to Sharing Geospatial Data Assets. http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2007/RAND_MG552.pdf
• Network Technologies for Networked Terrorists: Assessing the Value of Information and Communication Technologies to Modern Terrorist Organizations. http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/2007/RAND_TR454.pdf
• Talking to the Enemy: Track Two Diplomacy in the Middle East and South Asia. http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2007/RAND_MG592.pdf
• U.S. Policy Options for Iraq: A Reassessment. http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2007/RAND_MG613.pdf
• Ungoverned Territories: Understanding and Reducing Terrorism Risks. http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2007/RAND_MG561.pdf

Strategic Studies Institute (Army War College)

• A Concept at the Crossroads: Rethinking the Center of Gravity. http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?pubID=805
• The Summit: Mirage or Milestone?
  http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?pubID=824
• Turning on the DIME: Diplomacy’s role in National Security. http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?pubID=801

United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq

• Human Rights Report—1 April-30 June 2007.
  http://www.uniraq.org/FileLib/misc/HR%20Report%20Apr%20Jun%202007%20EN.pdf

UN Development Programme

• Human Rights Index for the Arab Countries.
  http://www.arabhumanrights.org/en/

UN High Commissioner on Refugees

• Statistics on Displaced Iraqis around the World.
  http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home/opendoc.pdf?tbl=SUBSITES&id=470387fc2

Veteran's Disability Benefits Commission

• Honoring the Call to Duty: Veterans' Disability Benefits in the 21st Century. http://www.vetscommission.org/reports.asp

Washington Institute for Near East Policy

• Deterring the Ayatollahs: Complications in Applying Cold War Strategy to Iran. http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/pubPDFs/PolicyFocus72FinalWeb.pdf

White House

• National Strategy for Homeland Security. http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/homeland/nshs/NSHS.pdf

REPORT: Veteran's Disability Benefits Commission

The Veteran's Disability Benefits Commission has released their report
"Honoring the Call to Duty: Veterans' Disability Benefits in the 21st
Century." The report can be accessed from
http://www.vetscommission.org/reports.asp

The PDF of the full report is available at
http://www.vetscommission.org/pdf/eReport_prepub_9-27.pdf

The executive summary is available at http://www.vetscommission.org/pdf/ExecutiveSummary_eV_9-27.pdf

The related documents are avaialble at
https://www.1888932-2946.ws/vetscommission/e-documentmanager/displaycontent.asp?categoryid=5D

Excerpt from the Exec Summary:
The Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission was established by Public Law 108-136, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2004. Between May 2005 and October 2007, the Commission conducted an in-depth analysis of the benefits and services available to veterans, service members, their survivors, and their families to compensate and provide assistance for the effects of disabilities and deaths attributable to military service. The Department of Veterans Affairs expended $40.5 billion on the wide array of these benefits and services in fiscal year 2006. The Commission addressed the appropriateness and purpose of benefits, benefit levels and payment rates, and the processes and procedures used to determine eligibility. The Commission reviewed past studies on these subjects, the legislative history of the benefit
programs, and related issues that have been debated repeatedly over many decades.

The Commission identified eight principles for guiding the development and delivery of future benefits for veterans and their families.

1. Benefits should recognize the often enormous sacrifices of military service as a continuing cost of war, and commend military service as the highest obligation of citizenship.
2. The goal of disability benefits should be rehabilitation and reintegration into civilian life to the maximum extent possible and preservation of the veterans' dignity.
3. Benefits should be uniformly based on severity of service-connected disability without regard to the circumstances of the disability (wartime v. peacetime, combat v. training, or geographical
location.)
4. Benefits and services should be provided that collectively compensate for the consequence of service-connected disability on the average impairment of earnings capacity, the ability to engage in usual life activities, and quality of life.
5. Benefits and standards for determining benefits should be updated or adapted frequently based on changes in the economic and social impact of disability and impairment, advances in medical knowledge and technology, and the evolving nature of warfare and military service.
6. Benefits should include access to a full range of health care provided at no cost to service-disabled veterans. Priority for care must be based on service connection and degree of disability.
7. Funding and resources to adequately meet the needs of service-disabled veterans and their families must be fully provided while being aware of the burden on current and future generations.
8. Benefits to our nation's service-disabled veterans must be delivered in a consistent, fair, equitable, and timely manner.

Private Military Contractors in Iraq

Given the latest news and hearings, these might be of some interest. Several House Oversight Committee reports were released in the last couple of days.

“Blackwater USA: Private Military Contractor Activity in Iraq and Afghanistan” House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Hearing, October 2, 2007 [not much there yet but more will be added after the hearing]
http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1509

“Additional Information about Blackwater USA.” House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Memorandum from the Majority Staff –. October 1, 2007
http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20071001121609.pdf

“Private Military Contractors in Iraq: An Examination of Blackwater’s Actions in Fallujah.” House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Majority Staff report. Sept 2007
http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20070927104643.pdf

“War Profiteering and Other Contractor Crimes Committed Overseas.” House. Committee on the Judiciary. Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. June 19, 2007
http://judiciary.house.gov/oversight.aspx?ID=338

“Iraqi Reconstruction: Reliance on Private Military Contractors “ House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Hearing – Feb 7, 2007 [includes links to the video of the hearing, witness statements, and more]
http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1165

Various letters to and from the Committee, the State Dept and Blackwater
http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1497

CPA Memorandum 17 – Registration Requirements for Private Security Companies (PSC) with Annexes including Annex A- Rules for the Use of Force by Contractors in Iraq and Annex B – Code of Conduct for Private Security Companies Operating Iraq
http://www.iraqcoalition.org/regulations/20040626_CPAMEMO_17_Registration_Requirements_for_Private_Security_Companies_with_Annexes.pdf

“Abuses in Private Security and Reconstruction Contracting in Iraq: Ensuring Accountability, Protecting Whistleblowers.” Senate Democratic Party Committee Hearing. September 21, 2007. [includes statements and links to the video of the hearing]
http://democrats.senate.gov/dpc/dpc-hearing.cfm?A=40

Selected other sources:

“The Private Military Firms: Historical Evolution and Industry Analysis.” NPS thesis. June 2007.
http://bosun.nps.edu/uhtbin/hyperion-image.exe/07Jun_Alabarda_MBA.pdf

“Analysis of Security Contractors in Deployed Environments.” NPS Thesis. December 2006
http://bosun.nps.edu/uhtbin/hyperion-image.exe/06Dec_Herron_MBA.pdf

“A Critical Analysis of the Coordination, Command and Control of Contractors in Iraq.” NPS Thesis. December 2006
http://bosun.nps.edu/uhtbin/hyperion-image.exe/06Dec_Butkus_MBA.pdf

“Outsourcing Small Wars: Expanding the Role of Private Military Companies in U.S. Military Operations.” NPS Thesis. September 2005.
http://bosun.nps.edu/uhtbin/hyperion-image.exe/05Sep_Jorgensen.pdf

“Rebuilding Iraq: Actions Needed to Improve Use of Private Security Providers.” GAO July 2005
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05737.pdf

“Private Security Contractors in Iraq: Background, Legal Status, and Other Issues” CRS report updated July 11, 2007
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32419.pdf

DCAF Backgrounder “Private Military Companies” April 2004
http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/files/portal/issueareas/security/security_pdf/2006_DCAF.pdf

“The Private Military Industry and Iraq: What Have We Learned and Where to Next?” DCAF Policy Paper. Nov 2004
http://www.dcaf.ch/_docs/pp04_private-military.pdf

“Phasing Out Private Security Contractors in Iraq” USAWC Strategic Leadership Course paper. March 2006
http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/ksil520.pdf

“Private Security Contractors on the Battlefield.” USAWC Strategy Research Project. March 2006
http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/ksil320.pdf

“Operational Implications of Private Military Companies in the Global War on Terror. Army Command and General Staff College, 2005
http://stinet.dtic.mil/dticrev/PDFs/ADA436294.pdf

“Public War, Private Fight? The United States and Private Military Companies” Global War on Terrorism Occasional Paper no. 12. Fort Leavenworth Combat Studies Institute. 2005
http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/download/csipubs/kidwell.pdf

NEW National Strategy for Homeland Security

FYI - the White House has released its new National Strategy for Homeland Security. It can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/homeland/nshs/2007/index.html

The full PDF version is available at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/homeland/nshs/NSHS.pdf

The Fact Sheet on it can be found at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/10/20071009-1.html

The 2002 report can be found at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/book/index.html

Useful Iraq related reports

A couple of new reports by Anthony Cordesman at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) might be of particular use with some interesting graphs and charts on various topics.

Pandora’s Box: Iraqi Federalism, Separatism, “Hard” Partitioning and US Policy.
http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/071009_pandorasbox.pdf
This working draft report from Oct 9, 2007 looks at federalizing or partitioning Iraq. Useful graphs/charts include topics such as: refugees and displaced persons, maps of threats and ethno-sectarian violence, Iraqi military and civilian casualties, public opinion, demographics, infrastructure and more.

Political, Military and Economic Dynamics in Iraq: A Graphic Overview.
http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/071005_iraqoverview.pdf
This revised October 2007 report shows, through the use of graphs and maps, topics such as: sectarian & ethnic divisions, oil fields, weekly attack trends by type, high profile and IED attacks, major threats and the state of Al Qaeda, insurgent concentrations, US aid status, crude oil production and more.