REPORTS- Iraq Reconstruction efforts

Several recent reports on the status of reconstruction in Iraq have been released this week from the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) and are in the news.

SIGIR Audit Reports [April]:

Main site -- http://www.sigir.mil/reports/audit.aspx

· 08-011 [April 29, 2008]
Review of Outcome, Cost, and Oversight of Electricity-Sector Reconstruction Contract with Perini Corporation http://www.sigir.mil/reports/pdf/audits/08-011.pdf

· 08-017 [April 28, 2008]
Transferring Reconstruction Projects to the Government of Iraq: Some Progress Made but Further Improvements Needed to Avoid Waste http://www.sigir.mil/reports/pdf/audits/08-017.pdf

· 08-013 [April 28, 2008]
Interim Report on Iraq Reconstruction Contract Terminations
http://www.sigir.mil/reports/pdf/audits/08-013.pdf

· 08-015 [April 25, 2008]
Interim Analysis of Iraqi Security Force Information Provided by the Department of Defense Report, Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq
http://www.sigir.mil/reports/pdf/audits/08-015.pdf

· 08-016 [April 24, 2008]
U.S. Anticorruption Efforts in Iraq: Progress Made in Implementing Revised Management Plan
http://www.sigir.mil/reports/pdf/audits/08-016.pdf

· 08-014 [April 24, 2008]
Progress on Recommended Improvements to Contract Administration for the Iraqi Police Training Program
http://www.sigir.mil/reports/pdf/audits/08-014.pdf

SIGIR Quarterly Reports

Main site http://www.sigir.mil/reports/Default.aspx

They just released its most recently quarterly report
http://www.sigir.mil/reports/quarterlyreports/Apr08/pdf/Report_-_April_2008.pdf

Their summary of this report --

Since April 2003, the United States Congress has appropriated more than $46 billion for the relief and reconstruction of Iraq. This Quarterly Report provides a comprehensive update on how that money has been spent, with information on the top five projects in each construction sector, the top contractors by income, an overview of reconstruction management, and SIGIR's new audits and inspections. In addition, with Iraq's oil revenue income on course to hit $70 billion for 2008 "twice what was expected" Iraq is in a position to take on more responsibility for its own reconstruction. The Year of Transfer in Iraq continues, with three major issues unfolding:

* Transferring funding responsibility
* Transferring reconstruction asset
* Transferring responsibility for security

REPORT - Small Vessel Security Strategy

The DHS has just released its "new Small Vessel Security Strategy (SVSS) designed to close security gaps and reduce risks associated with the potential exploitation of small maritime vessels."

Small Vessel Security Strategy (SVSS)
http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/small-vessel-security-strategy.pdf

Fact Sheet
http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1209398073431.shtm

Press Release
http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1209390662950.shtm

Report of the DHS National Small Vessel Strategy Summit [a related report]http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/small_vessel_NSVSS_Report_HQ_508.pdf

Friday's Miscellany 04-25-2008

American Enterprise Institute
Iraq: The Way Ahead http://www.aei.org/publications/pubID.27686/pub_detail.asp

Arms Control Association
· The 2008 Chemical Weapons Convention Review Conference Reader http://www.armscontrol.org/pdf/CWC2008_READERWEB.pdf

Atlantic Council of the United States
· Blair: Confront and Persuade http://www.acus.org/about-news-Awards_2008_BlairSpeech.asp
· Mullen: ‘We Will Have to Deal with Iran in the Very Near Future” http://www.acus.org/about-news-Awards_2008MullenSpeech.asp
· Murdoch: NATO Faces ‘Crisis of Confidence’ http://www.acus.org/about-news-Awards_2008MurdochSpeech.asp

BASIC
· Iran Update, No. 117 http://www.basicint.org/update/iran080424.htm

Brookings Institution
· Freedom, Religion and Democracy in the Age of the 24/7 News Cycle: A Dutch Perspective http://www.brookings.edu/events/2008/0411_netherlands.aspx
· Global Displacement and the Implications for Refugees http://www.brookings.edu/events/2008/0423_displacement.aspx

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
· Political Reform in China: Leadership Differences and Convergence http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/China1.pdf

Center for American Progress
· Fifteen Years After Black Hawk Down http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/04/pdf/somalia_report.pdf
· Nasty Neighbors: Resolving the Chad-Sudan Proxy War http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/04/pdf/nasty_neighbors.pdf

Center for Defense Information
· The Shambles of U.S. Nuclear Weapons Security http://www.cdi.org/program/document.cfm?DocumentID=4284&from_page=../index.cfm

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
· A Poisoned Chalice? The Crisis in National Security Planning, Programming, and Budgeting http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/080422_fy2009_poisoned_chalice.pdf
· The Shi’ite Gamble: Rolling the Dice for Iraq’s Future http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/080421_cordesman_shiite_gamble.pdf

Centre for European Reform
· The EU, Israel and Hamas http://www.cer.org.uk/pdf/wp_820.pdf
· France, NATO and European Defence http://www.cer.org.uk/pdf/policybrief_eu_nato_26march08.pdf

Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) West Point
· The Power of Truth? http://www.ctc.usma.edu/questions/

Congress. House Oversight Committee
· Felony or Military Personnel Waivers http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1889
· April 21, 2008 Letter to Under Secretary Chu [From Chairman Waxman commenting on the statistics provided] -- http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20080421104110.pdf
· Felony Waivers by Type of Offense (The charts show the numbers of felony waivers for conviction only, by service and by type for FY 2006 and FY 2007) http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20080421104349.pdf
· October 18, 2007 Letter to Under Secretary Chu [From Chairman Waxman requesting statistics] http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20080421154045.pdf

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
· The Cyclically Adjusted and Standardized Budget Measures http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=9074&type=1
· Growing Disparities in Life Expectancy http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=9104&type=1 · Policy Options for the Housing and Financial Markets http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=9078&type=1

Department of Defense Inspector General (DODIG)
· DoD Accounting to Support DoD Personnel During Times of Civil Emergency http://www.dodig.mil/Audit/reports/FY08/08-080.pdf

Department of Justice
· Summary -- Overview of the Law Enforcement Strategy to Combat International Organized Crime http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/speeches/2008/ioc-strategy-public-overview.pdf

Foreign Policy Research Institute
· An Israeli View of the Iranian Nuclear Challenge http://www.fpri.org/enotes/200804.inbar.israeliviewiraniannuclearchallenge.html

Government Accountability Office (GAO)
· Antidumping and Countervailing Duties: Congress and Agencies Should Take Additional Steps to Reduce Substantial Shortfalls in Duty Collection http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08391.pdf
· Defense Infrastructure: Continued Management Attention Is Needed to Support Installation Facilities and Operations http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08502.pdf
· Export Controls: State and Commerce Have Not Taken Basic Steps to Better Ensure U.S. Interests Are Protected http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08710t.pdf
· Federal Records: Agencies Face Challenges in Managing E-Mail http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08699t.pdf
· Homeland Security: Enhanced National Guard Readiness for Civil Support Missions May Depend on DOD's Implementation of the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08311.pdf
· Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance: DOD Can Better Assess and Integrate ISR Capabilities and Oversee Development of Future ISR Requirements http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08374.pdf
· International Boundary and Water Commission: Two Alternatives for Improving Wastewater Treatment at the United States-Mexico Border http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08595r.pdf
· Nanotechnology: Better Guidance Is Needed to Ensure Accurate Reporting of Federal Research Focused on Environmental, Health, and Safety Risks http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08402.pdf
· Nanotechnology: Accuracy of Data on Federally Funded Environmental, Health, and Safety Research Could Be Improved http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08709t.pdf
· National Transportation Safety Board: Progress Made in Management Practices, Investigation Priorities, Training Center Use, and Information Security, But These Areas Continue to Need Improvement http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08652t.pdf
· Space Acquisitions: DOD Is Making Progress to Rapidly Deliver Low Cost Space Capabilities, but Challenges Remain http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08516.pdf
· Strategic Petroleum Reserve: Improving the Cost-Effectiveness of Filling the Reserve http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08726t.pdf

Heritage Foundation
· Furthering the U.N.'s Leftist Agenda: The U.N. CERD Committee Report http://www.heritage.org/Research/InternationalOrganizations/upload/wm_1899.pdf

Hudson Institute
· The Third Road to Serfdom and its Foreign Policy Implications http://www.hudson.org/files/documents/The_third_road%20(1)%20(2).pdf

Human Rights Watch
· Perpetual Minors: Human Rights Abuses Stemming from Male Guardianship and Sex Segregation in Saudi Arabia http://hrw.org/reports/2008/saudiarabia0408/saudiarabia0408webwcover.pdf

Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS)
· China's Rising Influence in Asia: Implications for U.S. Policy [Strategic Forum no. 231] http://www.ndu.edu/inss/Strforum/SF231/SF231.pdf
· Choosing War: The Decision to Invade Iraq and Its Aftermath [Occasional Paper no. 5] http://www.ndu.edu/inss/Occasional_Papers/OP5.pdf

Institute for Science and International Security
· Syria Update III: New Information about Al Kibar Reactor Sitehttp://www.isis-online.org/publications/syria/SyriaUpdate_24April2008.pdf

International Crisis Group
· Côte d’Ivoire: Ensuring Credible Elections http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5400&l=1
· Will the Real Serbia Please Stand Up? http://www.crisisgroup.org/library/documents/europe/balkans/b49_will_the_real_serbia_please_stand_up.pdf
International Relations and Security Network
· Costs of War: Suicide 'Epidemic' http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?id=18886
· Israel's Anti-Missile Hunt http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?id=18904
· Pakistan's Elusive Peace Dreams http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?id=18907
· The World's Food Insecurity http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?id=18903

Lexington Institute
· Defense Acquisition Through 2012 http://lexingtoninstitute.org/1257.shtml
· Economic Security: The Coming Era of Re-Regulation http://lexingtoninstitute.org/1259.shtml

Project on Defense Alternatives
· The Role of Force & the Armed Forces in Post-Cold War US Foreign Policy: What Have We Learned? Cautionary Lessons for the Next Administration http://www.comw.org/pda/080410meet.html

RAND
· An Examination of the Relationship Between Usage and Operating and Support Costs for Air Force Aircraft http://rand.org/pubs/rgs_dissertations/2008/RAND_RGSD229.pdf
· Increasing Aircraft Carrier Forward Presence: Changing the Length of the Maintenance Cycle. http://rand.org/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG706.pdf

Senlis Council
· Chronic Failures in the War on Terror: From Afghanistan to Somalia http://www.senliscouncil.net/documents/chronic_failures_war_terror

Stanley Foundation
· Arab Media and US Policy: A Public Diplomacy Reset http://www.stanleyfoundation.org/publications/pab/PAB08Kraidy.pdf
· Implementation: A New Approach to Multinational Coordination in Afghanistan http://www.stanleyfoundation.org/publications/pab/NeumannPAB408.pdf
· Multilateralism as a Dual-Use Technique: Encouraging Nuclear Energy and Avoiding Proliferation http://www.stanleyfoundation.org/publications/pab/ThomForPAB308.pdf
· New Power Dynamics in Southeast Asia: Changing Security Cooperation and Competition http://www.stanleyfoundation.org/publications/pdb/NPDSecurityPDB308.pdf
· One UN Pilots: Aligning UN Capabilities in Support of National Development, 39th United Nations Issues Conference http://www.stanleyfoundation.org/publications/pdb/OneUNProgressReport308.pdf
· Policy Memo: Envisioning a Future Multilateral Security Mechanism for Northeast Asia: What’s at Stake for the US? http://www.stanleyfoundation.org/publications/other/San_Diego_DPRK_Policy_Memo_-_mas.pdf
· The Rise and Impact of Iran's Neocons http://www.stanleyfoundation.org/publications/pab/RiseandImpactEhteshami08PAB.pdf

US Institute of Peace
· Managing Crisis and Sustaining Peace Between China and the United States http://www.usip.org/pubs/peaceworks/pwks61.pdf
· PeaceWatch [April 2008, v. 14, no. 1]http://www.usip.org/peacewatch/2008/pw_april08.pdf
o Overcoming Rule of Law 'Ad-hoc-cracy'
o Iran: Dialouges of Peace in Islam
o A "Postmortem Long Overdue"
o Sudan "The Sheikh of Creativity" and Other Tales

Washington Institute for Near East Policy
· Bad News or Bad Data? The Debate over Arab and Muslim Public Opinion http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2807
· Iranian Parliamentary Elections and Ahmadinezhad's Discontents http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2796
· Slippery Polls: Uses and Abuses of Opinion Surveys from Arab States http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/pubPDFs/PolicyFocus82initial.pdf

NEW Law Enforcement Strategy to Combat International Organized Crime

Summary -- Overview of the Law Enforcement Strategy to Combat
International Organized Crime --
http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/speeches/2008/ioc-strategy-public-overview.pdf

Press Release -- http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel08/ioc042308.htm

Felony or Military Personnel Waivers

This has been in the news a lot in the last few days so these might be of interest.

The house Oversight committee had requested information on the increase in the use of military personnel waivers. Useful information that has been gathered can be found o their website -- http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1889

The information includes:

· April 21, 2008 Letter to Under Secretary Chu [From Chairman Waxman commenting on the statistics provided] -- http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20080421104110.pdf

· Felony Waivers by Type of Offense (The charts show the numbers of felony waivers for conviction only, by service and by type for FY 2006 and FY 2007) http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20080421104349.pdf

· October 18, 2007 Letter to Under Secretary Chu [From Chairman Waxman requesting statistics] http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20080421154045.pdf

NDU report on Iraq

This recently released report from National Defense University’s (NDU) Institute for National Strategic Studies has been in the news a lot the past few days so it might be of interest.

Dr. Joseph J. Collins [a professor of National Security Strategy]

NDU INSS Occasional Paper #5 - “Choosing War: The Decision to Invade Iraq and Its Aftermath.” April 2008 http://www.ndu.edu/inss/Occasional_Papers/OP5.pdf

Friday's Miscellany 04-18-2008

Aerospace Industries Association
· U.S. Defense Modernization: Readiness Now and for the Future http://www.aia-aerospace.org/pdf/report_modernization.pdf

American Enterprise Institute
· Corruption and Indignation: Windows into Popular Chinese Views of Right and Wrong http://www.aei.org/research/Tocqueville/publications/pubID.27763,projectID.29/pub_detail.asp

Amnesty International
· Secrecy Surrounds Death Penalty http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ACT50/001/2008/en/b43a1e5b-ffea-11dc-b092-bdb020617d3d/act500012008eng.pdf

Atlantic Council of the United States
· The Moment Has Arrived: NATO Membership for Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia http://www.acus.org/docs/032508-EnlargementBrief.pdf

Brookings Institution
· Nicolas Sarkozy’s Foreign Policy: Gaullist by Any Other Name http://www.brookings.edu/articles/2008/04_sarkozy_vaisse.aspx

Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Institute
· The 2007 Ross Ellis Memorial Lectures in Military and Strategic Studies: Is there a Grand Strategy in Canadian Foreign Policy? http://www.cdfai.org/PDF/2008RossEllispaper.pdf

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
· Egypt’s Local Elections Farce: Causes and Consequences http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/egypt's_local_elections_final2.pdf

Center for a New American Security (CNAS)
· Sustainable Security: Developing a Security Strategy for the Long Haul http://www.cnas.org/attachments/contentmanagers/1924/Thomas_SustainableSecurity_April08.pdf

Center for Defense Information (CDI)
· CFE Treaty: Prospects for Reinvigoration and Expansion to Asia http://www.cdi.org/program/document.cfm?DocumentID=4271&from_page=../index.cfm

Center for International and Security Studies (CISSM)
· "Ungoverned Areas and Threats from Safe Havens" http://www.cissm.umd.edu/papers/files/ugash_report_final.pdf

James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies
· Preparing for 2010: Striking a Balance between Nuclear Disarmament & Nuclear Nonproliferation http://www.cns.miis.edu/pubs/week/080415_npt.htm

Center for Security Policy
· The FTA with Colombia: The Political Dimension http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/home.aspx?sid=140&categoryid=140&subcategoryid=142

Center for Security Studies (CSS)
· The European Armaments Sector: The Need for the State to Adapt http://www.isn.ethz.ch/pubs/ph/details.cfm?lng=en&id=50190
· Open Source Intelligence: A Strategic Enabler of National Security http://www.isn.ethz.ch/pubs/ph/details.cfm?lng=en&id=50169

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
· Comparative Connections v.10 n.1. http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/0801q.pdf
· Early Warning? A Review of Conflict Prediction Models and Systems http://forums.csis.org/pcrproject/?page_id=267
· The Ongoing Lessons of the Afghan and Iraq Wars http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/080415_afgh-iraqlessonbrief.pdf
· Overcoming Extremism Conference Report http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/080321_overcomingextremismconfreport.pdf
· Shaping a "Conditions-Based Strategy and Plan for Staying in Iraq" http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/080417_iraq.conditions.based.plan.pdf
· A Steep Hill: Congress and U.S. Efforts to Strengthen Fragile States http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/080320-barton-steephill.pdf
· Venezuela Forum: Conclusions and Future Implications http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/080409-deshazo-venezuelaforum.pdf

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
· Central Intelligence Agency Fleet Alternative Fuel Use and Vehicle Acquisition Report - FY 2007 https://www.cia.gov/library/reports/afvreports/fy2007/afv-report-fy2007.html

Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) at West Point
· CTC Sentinel, v.1, no. 5, April 2008 http://www.ctc.usma.edu/sentinel/CTCSentinel-Vol1Iss5.pdf
o "Al-Qa`ida in Yemen’s 2008 Campaign," by Gregory D. Johnsen
o "The LIFG’s Current Role in the Global Jihad," by Alison Pargeter
o "Al-Qa`ida’s Finances: Evidence of Organizational Decline?" by Matthew Levitt
o "The UK’s Experience in Counter-Radicalization," by James Brandon
o "AQIM’s Expanding Internationalist Agenda," by Andrew Black
o "Nanomanagement: A Challenge to Those Combating Terrorism," by Major Tommy Sowers, U.S. Army
o "After Action Report: Politics 101 for Small Units in Counter-Insurgency," by Jeremy Gwinn, U.S. Army

Committee on the Present Danger
· Atomic Fissures In Iran: The Case for Public Diplomacy http://www.committeeonthepresentdanger.org/IranUpdate/Archive/AtomicFissuresInIranThecaseforpublicdiplo/tabid/807/Default.aspx

Congress. House Armed Services Committee
· Agency Stovepipes vs Strategic Agility: Lessons We Need to Learn from Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Iraq and Afghanistan http://armedservices.house.gov/pdfs/Reports/PRT_Report.pdf

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
· An Analysis of the President's Budgetary Proposals for Fiscal Year 2009 http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=8990&type=1
· Growing Disparities in Life Expectancy http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=9104&type=1
· Policy Options for the Housing and Financial Markets http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=9078&type=1
· A Review of CBO's Activities in 2007 Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=9068&type=1

Council on Foreign Relations
· Access to Justice in China http://www.cfr.org/publication/15745/access_to_justice_in_china.html?breadcrumb=%2Fpublication%2Fby_type%2Fbackgrounder
· Economic Challenges for Climate Change Policy http://www.cfr.org/publication/16009/economic_challenges_for_climate_change_policy.html?breadcrumb=%2Fpublication%2Fby_type%2Fbackgrounder
· Smart Countries, Foolish Choices http://www.cfr.org/content/publications/attachments/CGS_WorkingPaper_1.pdf

Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS)
· "These Young Men Show No Respect for Local Customs" http://www.isn.ethz.ch/pubs/ph/details.cfm?lng=en&id=48331

Department of Homeland Security Inspector General
· Letter Report: DHS Needs to Priortize Its Cyber Assets http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_08-31_Mar08.pdf
· The Removal of a Canadian Citizen to Syria http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_08-18_Mar08.pdf

European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS)
· Kosovo: The View from Serbia http://www.iss.europa.eu/uploads/media/kosovo.pdf

Government Accountability Office (GAO)
· Combating Terrorism: The United States Lacks Comprehensive Plan to Destroy the Terrorist Threat and Close the Safe Haven in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08622.pdf
· Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: Pending Legislation Would Apply U.S.
· Defense Management: Observations on DOD's FY 2009 Budget Request for Corrosion Prevention and Control http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08663r.pdf
· Defense Travel System: Overview of Prior Reported Challenges Faced by DOD in Implementation and Utilization http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08649t.pdf
· Department of Defense: Observations on the National Industrial Security Program http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08695t.pdf
· Drinking Water: The District of Columbia and Communities Nationwide Face Serious Challenges in Their Efforts to Safeguard Water Supplies. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08687t.pdf
· Freedom of Information Act: Agencies Are Making Progress in Reducing Backlog, but Additional Guidance Is Needed http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08344.pdf
· Highlights of a Forum Convened by the Comptroller General of the United States: Strengthening the Use of Risk Management Principles in Homeland Security http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08627sp.pdf
· Homeland Security: Federal Efforts Are Helping to Address Some Challenges Faced by State and Local Fusion Centers http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08636t.pdf
· Homeland Defense: Steps Have Been Taken to Improve U.S. Northern Command's Coordination with States and the National Guard Bureau, but Gaps Remain http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08252.pdf
· Homeland Defense: U.S. Northern Command Has Made Progress but Needs to Address Force Allocation, Readiness Tracking Gaps, and Other Issues. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08251.pdf
· Immigration Law to the CNMI with a Transition Period http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08466.pdf
· Transportation Security: Efforts to Strengthen Aviation and Surface Transportation Security Continue to Progress, But More Work Remains. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08651t.pdf

Henry L. Stimson Center
· Vulnerability of Research Reactors to Attack http://www.stimson.org/southasia/pdf/Saleem%20Zafar%20Paper.pdf

Heritage Foundation
· The Bush-Brown White House Meeting: A Chill in the Special Relationship? http://www.heritage.org/Research/Europe/upload/wm_1892.pdf
· Losing Latin America? A Protectionist Congress Is Destroying U.S. Credibility http://www.heritage.org/Research/LatinAmerica/upload/wm_1890.pdf
· Moving Forward to Secure the Border. Heritage Foundation http://www.heritage.org/Research/HomelandSecurity/upload/wm_1894.pdf
· Private Faith, Big Government: Understanding the Impact of Marginalizing Religion http://www.heritage.org/Research/Religion/upload/bg_2123.pdf
· Stalling the Colombia FTA: A Major Blow to U.S. Public Diplomacy http://www.heritage.org/Research/TradeandForeignAid/upload/wm_1893.pdf
· The War in Afghanistan: More Help Needed http://www.heritage.org/Research/NationalSecurity/upload/bg_2124.pdf

Human Rights Watch
· Coercion and Intimidation of Child Soldiers to Participate in Violence http://hrw.org/backgrounder/2008/crd0408/crd0408web.pdf
· Olympic Corporate Sponsors: Rhetoric and Reality http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/04/16/china18573.htm
· Denied Status, Denied Education: Children of North Korean Women in China http://hrw.org/reports/2008/northkorea0408/northkorea0408webwcover.pdf

Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS)
· After the Surge: Next Steps in Iraq? http://www.ndu.edu/inss/Strforum/SF230/SF230.pdf
· Choosing War: The Decision to Invade Iraq and Its Aftermath http://www.ndu.edu/inss/Occasional_Papers/OP5.pdf

Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS)
· Briefing notes from February 2008 IAEA Meeting regarding Iran's Nuclear Program http://www.isis-online.org/publications/iran/IAEA_Briefing_Weaponization.pdf

International Crisis Group
· Assessing the Overall Security Situation in Afghanistan [Speech] http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5396&l=1
· The Responsibility to Protect: Ending Mass Atrocity Crimes [Speech] http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5397&l=1
· Sudan's Multifaceted Crisis [Speech] http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5392&l=1

Lexington Institute
· Buying Weapons: A Reform Agenda for the Next President http://lexingtoninstitute.org/1253.shtml

National Security Archive (GWU)
· U.S. Reconnaissance Satellites: Domestic Targets http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB229/index.htm

Parameters
Spring 2008, v. 38, no. 1 http://www.carlisle.army.mil/usawc/Parameters/08spring/contents3.htm
**“Revolt of the Generals: A Case Study in Professional Ethics” by Martin L. Cook
**“The Limits of American Generalship: The JCS’s Strategic Advice in Early Cold War Crises” by Wade Markel
**“The Mythical Shia Crescent” by Pat Proctor
**“Meddling in the Markets: Foreign Manipulation” by Felix K. Chang and Jonathan Goldman
**“China through Arab Eyes: American Influence in the Middle East” by Chris Zambelis and Brandon Gentry
**“The Strategic Importance of Central Asia: An American View” by Stephen Blank

Pew Global Attitudes Project
· Where Trust is High, Crime and Corruption are Low: Since Communism's Fall, Social Trust Has Fallen in Eastern Europe http://pewresearch.org/pubs/799/global-social-trust-crime-corruption

Proteus USA [Army War College]
55 Trends Series
· v. 1. no. 2 [February 2008]
o Now Shaping the Future of Terrorism http://www.carlisle.army.mil/proteus/docs/55-terror.pdf
· v. 1, no. 1 [February 2008]
o Now Shaping the Future of Policing http://www.carlisle.army.mil/proteus/docs/55-policing.pdf

RAND
· Comparing Alternative U.S. Counterterrorism Strategies: Can Assumption-Based Planning Help Elevate the Debate? http://www.rand.org/pubs/documented_briefings/2008/RAND_DB548.pdf
· Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery http://rand.org/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG720.pdf
· Invisible Wounds of War: Summary and Recommendations for Addressing Psychological and Cognitive Injuries http://rand.org/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG720.1.pdf
· Performance Evaluation and Army Recruiting http://rand.org/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG562.pdf
· Perspectives on the Threat of Nuclear Terrorism [testimony] http://www.rand.org/pubs/testimonies/2008/RAND_CT304.pdf
· Post-Deployment Stress: What You Should Know, What You Can Do http://rand.org/pubs/corporate_pubs/2008/RAND_CP534-2008-03.pdf
· Post-Deployment Stress: What Families Should Know, What Families Can Do http://rand.org/pubs/corporate_pubs/2008/RAND_CP535-2008-03.pdf

Refugees International
· Uprooted and Unstable: Meeting Urgent Humanitarian Needs in Iraq http://www.refugeesinternational.org/content/publication/detail/10570

Strategic Studies Institute
· Baloch Nationalism and the Geopolitics of Energy Resources: The Changing Context of Separatism in Pakistan http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/PUB853.pdf
· The Evolution of U.S. Turkish Relations in a Transatlantic Context http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/PUB861.pdf
· Precision in the Global War on Terror: Inciting Muslims Through the War on Ideas http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?pubID=843

United Nations University (UNU)
· Can we Eradicate Hunger? http://www.isn.ethz.ch/pubs/ph/details.cfm?lng=en&id=48000

US Institute of Peace
· Building for Peace [new website] http://www.usip.org/building/
· Kenya: Setting the Stage for Durable Peace? http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/0415_kenya.html

REPORT: DSB Task Force on Nuclear Weapons Surety [revised version]

FYI - the Defense Science Board has posted a revised version of their February report. The April 2008 revised version of "The Defense Science Board Permanent Task Force on Nuclear Weapons Surety: Report on the Unauthorized Movement of Nuclear Weapons" is available directly at
http://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports/2008-04-Nuclear_Weapons_Surety.pdf
or from their main reports page http://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports.htm

According to the revised version, they had completed the information gathering in December 2007 but in "April 2008 a data error was discovered" and the report was revised accordingly. "Specifically, report Section III: Nuclear Enterprise Focus was updated to reflect that the Strategic Air Command tanker force was reassigned to the Air Mobility Command (vice Military Airlift Command)."

Friday's Miscellany 04-11-2008

American Enterprise Institute
· AEI Petraeus-Crocker Hearings Advisory: Kagan Iraq Report http://www.aei.org/publications/pubID.27686/pub_detail.asp
· Cuba the Morning After http://www.aei.org/books/bookID.328/book_detail.asp
· Iran's Global Ambition http://www.aei.org/publications/pubID.27658/pub_detail.asp

American Foreign Policy Council
· Missile defense priorities: the view from Congress: Senator Jon Kyl http://www.afpc.org/KylBMD2008.pdf
· Russia Reform Monitor http://www.afpc.org/rrm/rrm1544.htm
· China Reform Monitor http://www.afpc.org/crm/crm688.htm
· Missile Defense Briefing Report http://www.afpc.org/mdbr/mdbr240.htm
· Iran Democracy Monitor http://www.afpc.org/idm/idm69.htm

Center for Defense Information
· Are MIRVs and Satellite Integration and Dispensation Mutually Inclusive? http://www.cdi.org/PDFs/IndiaMIRV.pdf

James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies Monterey Institute of International Studies
· Taiwan's Presidential Election and its Impact on Cross-Strait Relations and Regional Security http://www.cns.miis.edu/pubs/week/pdf_support/080404_taiwanelectionreview.pdf

Center for Security Policy
· Required reading: Doug Feith http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/home.aspx?sid=140&categoryid=140&subcategoryid=141
· China displaces the U.S. at Ecuador's Manta Base http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/home.aspx?sid=140&categoryid=140&subcategoryid=142

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
· Facilitating a Dialogue among Senior-Level DoD Officials on National Security Priorities: A Methodological Note - A Beyond Goldwater-Nichols Phase 4 Report http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/080404_bgn_phase4.pdf
· Iraq and the Crocker-Petraeus Testimony: The Risks that Only Time and a Sustained US Presence Can Deal With http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/080407_iraq_and_reasons.pdf
· The Ongoing Lessons of the Afghan and Iraq Wars http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/080407_afgh-iraqlessonbrief.pdf

Congress. Armed Services Committees [Petraeus and Crocker hearings]
· Senate [April 8th] http://armed-services.senate.gov/e_witnesslist.cfm?id=3237
· House [April 9th] http://www.house.gov/hasc/hearing_information.shtml

Council on Foreign Relations
· Five Years of War in Iraq (Interactive) http://www.cfr.org/publication/15702/five_years_of_war_in_iraq.html?breadcrumb=%2F
· Petraeus, Crocker Gird for Assault on the Hill http://www.cfr.org/publication/15935/petraeus_crocker_gird_for_assault_on_the_hill.html?breadcrumb=%2F

Defense Personnel Security Research Center
· Changes in Espionage by Americans: 1947-2007
· http://www.fas.org/sgp/library/changes.pdf

Department of Defense Inspector General (DODIG)
· Report on the Cost, Oversight, and Impact of Congressional Earmarks http://www.dodig.mil/Audit/reports/fy08/08-073.pdf

Foreign Policy Research Institute
· An Israeli View of the Iranian Nuclear Challenge http://www.fpri.org/enotes/200804.inbar.israeliviewiraniannuclearchallenge.html
· Robert Kaplan on the New Balance of Power http://www.fpri.org/enotes/200804.kuehner.kaplannewbalanceofpower.html

Government Accountability Office (GAO)
· Defense Acquisitions: 2009 Review of Future Combat System Is Critical to Program's Direction http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08638t.pdf
· Department of Homeland Security: Progress Made in Implementation of Management Functions, but More Work Remains http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08646t.pdf
· Electronic Government: Additional OMB Leadership Needed to Optimize Use of New Federal Employee Identification Cards http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08292.pdf
· Employee Security: Implementation of Identification Cards and DOD's Personnel Security Clearance Program Need Improvement http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08551t.pdf
· Force Structure: Restructuring and Rebuilding the Army Will Cost Billions of Dollars for Equipment but the Total Cost Is Uncertain http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08669t.pdf
· Governmentwide Purchase Cards: Actions Needed to Strengthen Internal Controls to Reduce Fraudulent, Improper, and Abusive Purchases http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08333.pdf
· International Trade: U.S. Trade Preference Programs Provide Important Benefits, but a More Integrated Approach Would Better Ensure Programs Meet Shared Goals http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08443.pdf
· Internet Sales: Undercover Purchases on eBay and Craigslist Reveal a Market for Sensitive and Stolen U.S. Military Items http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08644t.pdf

The Heritage Foundation
· African Development: Promise and Peril http://www.heritage.org/Research/Africa/upload/hl_1074.pdf
· Lessons Learned from the Basra Fighting for the Iraq Hearings http://www.heritage.org/Research/MiddleEast/wm1887.cfm

Human Rights First
· Arbitrary Justice—Trials of Guantanamo and Bagram Detainees in Afghanistan http://www.humanrightsfirst.info/pdf/USLS-080409-arbitray-justice-report.pdf

Human Rights Watch
· Cluster Munitions and the Proportionality Test: Memorandum to Delegates of the Convention on Conventional Weapons http://hrw.org/backgrounder/arms/arms0408/
· Five Years On: No Justice for Sexual Violence in Darfur http://hrw.org/reports/2008/darfur0408/darfur0408webwcover.pdf
· Benchmarks, Consultations and Transparency: Making the EU Central Asia Strategy an Effective Tool for Human Rights Improvements http://hrw.org/backgrounder/2008/ca0408/ca0408web.pdf
· Double Jeopardy: CIA Renditions to Jordan http://hrw.org/reports/2008/jordan0408/jordan0408webwcover.pdf

International Crisis Group
· Armenia: Picking up the Pieces http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5385&l=1
· Kyrgyzstan: The Challenge of Judicial Reform http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5387&l=1

Lexington Institute
· FCS: The Logic of Future Combat Systems http://lexingtoninstitute.org/docs/808.pdf

National Security Archive
· Fighting the War in Southeast Asia, 1961-1973 http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB248/index.htm

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
· The al-qaeda Media Nexus: The Virtual Network Behind the Global Message http://docs.rferl.org/en-US/AQ_Media_Nexus.pdf

RAND
· Finding Candidate Options for Investment: From Building Blocks to Composite Options and Preliminary Screening http://rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/2008/RAND_TR501.pdf
· Increasing Aircraft Carrier Forward Presence: Changing the Length of the Maintenance Cycle http://rand.org/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG706.pdf
· Radicalization or Rehabilitation: Understanding the Challenge of Extremist and Radicalized prisoners http://rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/2008/RAND_TR571.pdf
· Small Ships in Theater Security Cooperation http://rand.org/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG698.pdf
· Turkey as a U.S. Security Partner http://rand.org/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG694.pdf

Symantec
· Symamtec Global Internet Security Threat Report Vol. 13 http://www.symantec.com/business/theme.jsp?themeid=threatreport

United States Institute of Peace
· Iraq After the Surge: Options and Questions http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/iraq_surge.pdf

Washington Institute for Near East Policy
· Who Won the Battle for Basra? http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=

REPORT: Ungoverned Areas and Threats from Safe Havens

A report that may be of interest – it was prepared for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and is entitled “Ungoverned Areas and Threats from Safe Havens.” [Abstract below]

http://www.cissm.umd.edu/papers/display.php?id=306 OR directly

http://www.cissm.umd.edu/papers/files/ugash_report_final.pdf

Abstract:

Individuals and groups who use violence in ways that threaten the United States, its allies, or its partners habitually find or create ways to operate with impunity or without detection. Whether for private financial gain (e.g., by narcotics and arms traffickers) or for harmful political aims (e.g., by insurgents, terrorists, and other violent extremists), these illicit operations are most successful — and most dangerous — when their perpetrators have a place or situation that can provide refuge from efforts to combat or counter them. Such places and situations are often called safe havens, and potential safe havens are sometimes called ungoverned areas. A key component of counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, counternarcotics, stabilization, peacekeeping, and other such efforts is to reduce the size and effectiveness of the safe havens that protect illicit actors. Agencies in defense, diplomacy, development, law enforcement, and other areas all have capabilities that can be applied to countering such threats and building the capacity and legitimacy of U.S. partners to prevent ungoverned, under-governed, misgoverned, contested, and exploitable areas from becoming safe havens. To do this effectively requires careful consideration of all the geographical, political, civil, and resource factors that make safe havens possible; a sober appreciation of the complex ways those factors interact; and deeper collaboration among U.S. government offices and units that address such problems — whether operating openly, discreetly, or covertly — to ensure unity of effort. This report offers a framework that can be used to systematically account for these considerations in relevant strategies, capabilities, and doctrines/best practices.