Friday's Miscellany 12-26-2008

American Enterprise Institute
· Bush the Hall Monitor
· Defense Spending Would Be Great Stimulus
· Venting in Athens

BASIC
· Afghanistan Update [December 23, 2008]
· Iran Update [December 22, 2008]

Brookings Institution
· The Current Detainee Population of Guantánamo: An Empirical Study
· Don’t Forget the Human Infrastructure
· Economy, Housing Woes Slow Migration, Census Shows
· How to Win Islam Over
· The Millennium Challenge Corporation: An Opportunity for the Next President

Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Institute (CDAI)
· Mexico: Current and Future Political, Economic and Security Trends
· President Al Gore and the 2003 Iraq War: A Counterfactual Critique of Conventional "W"isdom

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
· BBC Live at Carnegie: Foreign Policy for Obama
· Bloodbath in Bombay: India's Leading Voices Speak Out

Center for Defense Information (CDI)
Defense Monitor v. 27, November-December 2008
o U.S. Nuclear Forces and Conventional Force Alternatives
o Getting to Zero
o Joint Strike Fighter: The Latest Hotspot in the U.S. Defense Meltdown
o The Other Meltdown: Our Defenses
o Restricting U.S. Access to the ISS?: One of Missile Defense's Unintended Consequences
o Countdown to Air Force Cyber Command Stopped

Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS)
· America's Self-Destroying Air Power: Becoming Your Own Peer Threat
· The Oil Market: It’s All About Demand For Now

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
· Factors Underlying the Decline in Manufacturing Employment Since 2000
· Historical Effective Tax Rates, 1979 to 2005: Supplement with Additional Data on Sources of Income and High-Income Households

Defense Science Board (DBS)
Challenges to Military Operations in Support of U.S. Interests
o Vol I - Executive Summary
o Vol II - Main Report
· Permanent Task Force on Nuclear Weapons Surety Report: Nuclear Weapons Inspections for the Strategic Nuclear Forces

Department of Defense
· DoD Directive 3000.07, Irregular Warfare (IW), December 1, 2008
· DoD Directive 5200.41, DoD Centers for Regional Security Studies, July 30, 2004; Certified Current as of December 5, 2008
· DoD Instruction 2205.02, Humanitarian and Civic Assistance (HCA) Activities, December 2, 2008
· DoD Instruction 8410.02, NetOps for the Global Information Grid (GIG), December 19, 2008
· Directive-Type Memorandum DTM-08-006, DoD Implementation of Homeland Security Presidential Directive - 12 (HSPD-12), November 26, 2008 - POSTED 12/5/2008
· Directive-Type Memorandum DTM-08-034, DoD Counterthreat Finance (CTF) Policy, December 2, 2008 - POSTED 12/5/2008

Department of Defense Inspector General
· Semiannual Report to Congress, April 1, 2008- September 30, 2008

Department of Homeland Security
· National Incident Management Systems [Dec 2008]

Department of Homeland Security. Privacy Impact Assessments (PIA)
· Advance Passenger Information System – Voluntary Rail and Bus Submissions (APIS-VRBS)
· Automated Commercial System (ACS)/ Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)- Importer Security Filing Data
· Automated Targeting System (ATS) Update
· Changes to Requirements Affecting H-2A Nonimmigrants and Changes to Requirements Affecting H-2B Nonimmigrants and Employers Final Rules
· Department of Homeland Security State, Local, and Regional Fusion Center Initiative

Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI)
· The Greek Riots: Anomic Youths, Headless Government
· Just What Is Happening in Canada—and What Does It Mean?

Government Accountability Office (GAO)
· Defense Logistics: Improved Analysis and Cost Data Needed to Evaluate the Cost-effectiveness of Performance Based Logistics GAO-09-41
· DOD Personnel Clearances: Preliminary Observations about Timeliness and Quality GAO-09-261R
· Homeland Security Grant Program Risk-Based Distribution Methods: Presentation to Congressional Committees - November 14, 2008 and December 15, 2008. GAO-09-168R

Heritage Foundation
· America Should Support the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership
· The Future of the WTO Doha Round
· How a Public Health Plan Will Erode Private Care

Human Rights Watch
· Besieged, Displaced, and Detained: The Plight of Civilians in Sri Lanka’s Vanni Region
· Left to Survive: Systematic Failure to Protect Unaccompanied Migrant Children in Greece

Institute for the Analysis of Global Security
Journal of Energy Security, December 2008
o The Big Gas Troika: A Lot of Hot Air
o Can The United States Drill Its Way to Energy Security?
o Canadian Arctic Energy Security
o Gas Exporting Countries Forum: The Russian-Iranian Gas Cartel
o Russia’s Financial Market Meltdown: Energy Security Implications

International Crisis Group
· Somalia: To Move Beyond the Failed State

International Relations and Security Network
· The French White Paper on Defense and National Security

Lexington Institute
· Economic Security: A George Bush Lesson for Mr. Obama

Lowry Institute for International Policy
· Australian aid to Africa
· Engaging Pakistan

National Defense University. Industrial College of the Armed Forces
· National Security Policy Process: The National Security Council and Interagency System

National Security Archive
· Documentos del Archivo del Terror de Paraguay Desmienten la Fuga de Prisioneros
· Kissinger Telephone Conversation Transcripts

Pew Research Center for the People and the Press
· Internet Overtakes Newspapers as News Source

RAND
· Community Policing and Crime: The Process and Impact of Problem-Solving in Oakland

Strategic Studies Institute
· HAMAS and Israel: Conflicting Strategies of Group-Based Politics

Washington Institute for Near East Studies
· Prevent Breakdown, Prepare for Breakthrough: How President Obama Can Promote Israeli-Palestinian Peace

White House
· Highlights of Accomplishments and Results: The Administration of President George W. Bush, 2001-2009
· 100 Things Americans May Not Know About the Bush Administration Record

Updated Unified Command Plan (UCP) 2008

DOD has released the updated Unified Command Plan (UCP). As they note – this is a “key strategic document that establishes the missions, responsibilities, and geographic areas of responsibility for commanders of combatant commands. http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12408

The document itself is classified

According to their press release http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=52450 , major changes to the plan include:
-- Codifying Africom, which became fully operational-capable Oct. 1, as a geographic combatant command by assigning specific missions, responsibilities and geographic boundaries;

-- Shifting the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands from U.S. Southern Command's to U.S. Northern Command's area of responsibility;

-- Assigning every combatant commander responsibility for planning and conducting military support for stability, security, transition, reconstruction operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief;

-- Assigning central planning authorities for several global missions, including pandemic influenza response, cyberspace operations, global operations against terrorist networks, combating weapons of mass destruction and global missile defense; and

-- Codify U.S. Pacific Command's responsibility for homeland defense operations in Hawaii, Guam and other U.S. territories within its area of responsibility. The plan codifies a new "pandemic influenza" mission and tasks Northcom to plan departmentwide efforts in support of the U.S. government response to an outbreak. U.S. Strategic Command is assigned responsibility for the department's cyberspace mission, Whitman said.

A map of the combatant commanders’ Areas of Responsibility (AOR) is available at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/map12-08.pdf

REPORTS - DBS - Challenges to Military Operations in Support of U.S.

The Defense Science Board (DBS) has posted 3 new reports.

Challenges to Military Operations in Support of U.S. Interests [2007 Summer Study]
Vol I - Executive Summary
Vol II - Main Report
Major themes:
· Future of War
· Unconventional Weapons & Technology Proliferation
· Nuclear Proliferation: A Special Case
· Unconventional Operational Concepts and the Homeland
· What We Know and Don't Know About Adversary Capabilities: Intelligence
· Fighting Through Asymmetric Counterforce
· Strategic Communications: Another Instrument of U.S. Power

Permanent Task Force on Nuclear Weapons Surety Report: Nuclear Weapons Inspections for the Strategic Nuclear Forces [December 2008]

related report -
Permanent Task Force on Nuclear Weapons Surety Report: Unauthorized Movement of Nuclear Weapons (April Update)

Bush Record - 2 new reports

As the end of President Bush's term nears, the White House has posted 2 new reports reviewing his accomplishments.

Highlights of Accomplishments and Results: The Administration of President George W. Bush, 2001-2009 [this is the full report with the 100 Things appendix included]

100 Things Americans May Not Know About the Bush Administration Record [this is actually a separate appendix of the main volume above]

These and other related information can be found on the Bush Record page http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/bushrecord/

New NIMS released

DHS has release a revised National Incident Management System (NIMS) document. "NIMS establishes standardized incident management processes, protocols, and procedures that all federal, state, tribal and local responders will use to coordinate and conduct response actions."

National Incident Management Systems [Dec 2008]

NIMS resource page

Friday's Miscellany 12-19-2008

American Enterprise Institute

· A Conversation with President Bush

Amnesty International

· 'Less Than Lethal’?: The Use of Stun Weapons in US Law Enforcement

Brookings Institution

· Challenges in Alliance Management between Washington and Seoul

· The Current Detainee Population of Guantánamo: An Empirical Study

· Human Rights, Asia and the New Administration: Can Multilateralism Work This Time?

· Memo to the President: Expand the Agenda in Pakistan and Afghanistan

· The Road…Less Traveled: An Analysis of Vehicle Miles Traveled Trends in the U.S.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

· Chinese Regional Inequalities in Income and Well-Being

· Counter-Terrorism from Within: Assessing Saudi Arabia’s Religious Rehabilitation and Disengagement Programme

· Sharing the Burden in the Middle East

· Thinking Strategically About Russia

· Venezuela: A Nuclear Profile

CATO

· What Will Climate Change Cost Us?

Center for Defense Information (CDI)

· 2009 National Security and Nonproliferation Briefing Book

· Fiscal Year 2009 (FY 09) Defense Budget: Programs of Interest

Center for Science, Technology and Security Policy (CSTSP)

· Nuclear Weapons in 21st Century U.S. National Security

Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA)

· Cost of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Other Military Operations Through 2008 and Beyond

Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS)

· Bridging Strategic Asia: The United States, Japan, and India

Congress House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

· “Passing the Baton: Preparing for the Presidential Transition”

Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States

· Strategic Posture Review Commission (SPRC) Interim Report to Congress

Congressional Management Foundation (CMF)

· Communicating with Congress: Recommendations for Improving the Democratic Dialogue

Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)

· Expanding U.S. Military Partnerships in the Pacific

· Rice Defends Regime Change in Iraq, Stresses Diplomacy Elsewhere [Interview]

Defense Science Board (DSB)

· Report of the Joint Defense Science Board and the Intelligence Science Board Task Force on Integrated Sensor-Collected Intelligence

Department of the Army

· Training for Full Spectrum Operations (FM 7-0)

Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO)

· 2007-2008 APY Military Service Academies Gender Relations Survey Annual Report

Department of Health and Human Services

· Considerations for antiviral Drug Stockpiling by Employers in Preparation for an Influenza Pandemic

Department of Homeland Security Inspector General

· OIG-09-08 - Major Management Challenges Facing the Department of Homeland Security

Department of Justice National Drug Intelligence Center

· National Drug Threat Assessment 2009

Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General

· Department of Justice Efforts in Managing Information Technology Security Vulnerabilities

· An Investigation of Overtime Payments to FBI and Other Department of Justice Employees Deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan

European Union Police (EURPOL) Mission to Afghanistan

· Basics of Afghan Law and Criminal Justice: A Manual for the Afghan Police and Legal Professionals [translation]

Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI)

· Tahdiya: Calm Before the Palestinian Storm?

· Time to Change our Oil Policy

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

· Defense Inventory: Management Actions Needed to Improve the Cost Efficiency of the Navy's Spare Parts Inventory GAO-09-103

· Defense Logistics: Department of Defense's Annual Report on the Status of Prepositioned Materiel and Equipment Can Be Enhanced to Better Inform Congress GAO-09-147R

· Disaster Assistance: Federal Efforts to Assist Group Site Residents with Employment, Services for Families with Children, and Transportation GAO-09-81

· Disaster Recovery: FEMA's Public Assistance Grant Program Experienced Challenges with Gulf Coast Rebuilding GAO-09-129

· Fiscal Year 2008 Financial Report of the United States Government

· Flood Insurance: Options for Addressing the Financial Impact of Subsidized Premium Rates on the National Flood Insurance Program GAO-09-20

· Global War on Terrorism: Reported Obligations for the Department of Defense GAO-09-233R

· Improvement Continues in DOD's Reporting on Sustainable Ranges, but Opportunities Exist to Improve Its Range Assessments and Comprehensive Plan GAO-09-128R

· Results Oriented Management: Opportunities Exist for Refining the Oversight and Implementation of the Senior Executive Performance-Based Pay System GAO-09-82

· United Nations Peacekeeping: Challenges Obtaining Needed Resources Could Limit Further Large Deployments and Should Be Addressed in U.S. Reports to Congress GAO-09-142

Heritage Foundation

· Building Cyber Security Leadership for the 21st Century

· Diplomacy in an Age of Faith: How Failing to Understand the Role of Religion Hinders America's Purposes in the World

· Fixing Border Security and Immigration: A Memo to President-elect Obama

· Learning from Japan: Infrastructure Spending Won't Boost the Economy

· New CFIUS Regulations Support U.S. National and Economic Security Concerns

· The Oil-Price Roller Coaster: Global Challenges for the Obama Administration

· Protectionism Won't Fuel a Nuclear Renaissance

· Sovereign Wealth Funds: New Voluntary Principles a Step in the Right Direction

· Stiffening Pakistan's Resolve Against Terrorism: A Memo to President-elect Obama

Human Rights Watch

· The Quality of Justice: Failings of Iraq’s Central Criminal Court

o English

o Arabic

· This Alien Legacy: The Origins of "Sodomy" Laws in British Colonialism

· Trapped and Mistreated: LTTE Abuses against Civilians in the Vanni

International Crisis Group

· Ending Zimbabwe's Nightmare: A Possible Way Forward

· Palestine Divided

· Policing in Afghanistan: Still Searching for a Strategy

· Turkey and Europe: The Decisive Year Ahead

International Relations and Security Network

· 2009: War on Terror Part II

· Guantanamo Algerians Back in Bosnia

· Irish Voice, European Future

· Moscow Eyes Pan-European Security

· Nuclear Disarmament

· Obama's Plans for Latin America

· Political End Game

· Reform or Stasis?: Women and Peace Operations

· UN Declaration of Human Rights at 60: What Role for EU Foreign Policy?

Jamestown Foundation

· Chinese Land Attack Cruise Missile Developments and Their Implications for the United States

· Eurasia Daily Monitor December 19, 2008, v. 5, no. 242

o The Kremlin Defends Its Energy Interests

o Russia to OSCE: Recognize South Ossetia or Get Out

o Need for More Transparency in Kyrgyz and Tajik Energy Sectors to Avoid Future Crises

o Will Turkey See a Sunni-Alevi Confrontation in the Near Future?

· Eurasia Daily Monitor December 18, 2008, v. 5, no. 241

o U.S.–Georgia Security and Military Agreement in the Works

o U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership to Address Georgia’s Vulnerability

o A Military Reform That Does Not Seem to Satisfy Anyone

o Turkish Military in Need of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

· India's Intelligence Services Struggle with War on Terrorism

· A Mujahideen Bleed-Through from Iraq? Part Four – The Case of Palestine and Israel

Lexington Institute

· The Army Needs to Rethink Its Armored Vehicle Strategy

Lowry Institute for International Policy

· Ambition: The Emerging Foreign Policy of the Rudd Government

· Putting the Genie Back in the Bottle: Ruling Regimes and the New Media in the Arab World

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

· Public Response to Terrorism: Findings from the National Survey of Disaster Experiences and Preparedness

Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR)

· Hard Lessons: The Iraq Reconstruction Experience

Peterson Institute for International Economics (IIE)

· A New Trade Policy for the United States [Memo to the President-Elect]

· The (Non) Impact of UN Sanctions on North Korea

· The North American Free Trade Agreement: Time for a Change?

Pew Internet and American Life Project

· The Future of the Internet III

RAND

· The Netherlands F-16 Comparative Analysis: An Evaluation of the Process

· Occupational Safety and Health for Public Safety Employees: Assessing the Evidence and the Implications for Public Policy

· Improving Organ Donation and Transplantation in the European Union: Assessing the Impacts of European Action

· PREPARE for Pandemic Influenza: A Quality Improvement Toolkit

· The RAND SLAM Program

· U.S. Navy Shipyards: An Evaluation of Workload- and Workforce-Management Practices

Strategic Studies Institute

· War Without Borders: The Colombia-Ecuador Crisis of 2008

Transportation Research Board

· The Role of Transit in Emergency Evacuation

US Institute of Peace

· Iraq in the Obama Administration

· Toward Resolving Chad’s Interlocking Conflicts

Washington Institute for Near East Studies

· The Challenges of Israeli Military Action in Gaza

· IDF Military Action in Gaza: Options and Implications

· Security First: U.S. Priorities in Israeli-Palestinian Peacemaking

· Terrorist Threat and U.S. Response: A Changing Landscape

· Views of Arab Democrats: Advice to America on Promoting Middle East Reform

White House Transition Project (WHTP)

· WHTP Website