Friday's Miscellany 05-16-2008

ACLU
· Soldiers of Misfortune: Abusive U.S. Military Recruitment and Failure to Protect Child Soldiers http://www.aclu.org/pdfs/humanrights/crc_report_20080513.pdf

Brookings Institution
· Aid Strategy for Burma's Cyclone Victims. http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2008/0513_burma_ohanlon.aspx
· Expand the U.S. Agenda toward Pakistan. http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2008/0512_iraq_singer.aspx

Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Institute
· Redeployment as a Rite of Passage. http://www.cdfai.org/PDF/Redeployment%20as%20a%20Rite%20of%20Passage.pdf

Carnegie Council
· MYANMAR: Reviewing the Argument for Humanitarian Intervention http://www.cceia.org/resources/picks/0007.html

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
· Hizbollah Attempts a Coup d’État http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=20117&prog=zgp&proj=zme

Center for American Progress
· Changing Rationales: A Timeline of Bush Administration Quotes on Iraq http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/05/iraq_timeline.html
· Full Disclosure: An Executive Order to Require Consideration of Global Warming Under the National Environmental Policy Act http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/05/pdf/nepa.pdf
· The Progressive Generation: How Young Adults Think About the Economy http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/05/pdf/progressive_generation.pdf

Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR)
· An Empty Research Agenda: The Creation of Myths About Contemporary Venezuela http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/reports/an-empty-research-agenda-the-creation-of-myths-about-contemporary-venezuela/
· How Not to Attack an Economist (and an Economy): Getting the Numbers Right http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/reports/how-not-to-attack-an-economist-and-an-economy-getting-the-numbers-right/

Center for Global Development (CGD)
· The Commitment to Development Index for Africa: How Much do the Richest Countries Help the Poorest Continent? http://www.cgdev.org/content/publications/detail/16037
· Modernizing Foreign Assistance for the 21st Century: An Agenda for the Next US President http://www.cgdev.org/content/publications/detail/15561

Center for a New American Security
· Anecdotal Evidence of a Hollowing Force? A Closer Look at Junior Officer Retention. http://www.cnas.org/attachments/contentmanagers/2127/Junior%20Officer%20Retention%20May%202008.pdf

Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments
· Dissuasion Strategy vis-a-vis China http://www.csbaonline.org/4Publications/PubLibrary/S.20080506.Dissuasion_Strateg/S.20080506.Dissuasion_Strateg.pdf
Center for Strategic and International Studies
· The Afghan-Pakistan War: A Status Report. http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/080512_afghanstatus_trend.pdf
· Hemisphere Focus: The Politics of Confrontation in Bolivia Vol. 16, Issue 1 — May 12, 2008 http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/hf_v16_01.pdf
· A New Course for Pakistan http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/080514_sb_pakistantrip.pdf

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
· The Agency & The Hill: CIA's Relationship with Congress, 1946-2004 https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/agency-and-the-hill/index.html

Congress. House Committee on Homeland Security Majority Staff
· Public Health, Safety, and Security for Mass Gatherings http://homeland.house.gov/SiteDocuments/20080513105623-98169.pdf

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
· Issues and Options in Infrastructure Investment http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=9135&type=1

Department of Defense Inspector General
· D-2008-088 DoD IG Interim Report to Congress on Section 325 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, April 22, 2008 (Redacted Version) http://www.dodig.mil/Audit/reports/fy08/08-088.pdf

Foreign Policy Research Institute
· Chinese Foreign Policy in Hu’s Second Term: Coping with Political Transition Abroad http://www.fpri.org/enotes/20080510.zhao.chineseforeignpolicyhu.html
· Elections, Political Transitions and Foreign Policy in East Asia [conference videotapes and reports] http://www.fpri.org/research/asia/electionseastasia/

Government Accountability Office (GAO)
· Credit and Debit Cards: Federal Entities Are Taking Actions to Limit Their Interchange Fees, but Additional Revenue Collection Cost Savings May Exist http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08558.pdf
· Defense Contracting: Progress Made in Implementing Defense Base Act Requirements, but Complete Information on Costs Is Lacking http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08772t.pdf
· Defense Logistics: Navy Needs to Develop and Implement a Plan to Ensure That Voyage Repairs Are Available to Ships Operating near Guam when Needed http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08427.pdf
· Depot Maintenance: Issues and Options for Reporting on Military Depots. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08761r.pdf
· DOD Business Systems Modernization: Military Departments Need to Strengthen Management of Enterprise Architecture Programs http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08519.pdf
· DOD Business Systems Modernization: Progress in Establishing Corporate Management Controls Needs to Be Replicated Within Military Departments http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08705.pdf
· Information Management: Challenges in Implementing an Electronic Records Archive http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08738t.pdf
· Medical Devices: FDA Faces Challenges in Conducting Inspections of Foreign Manufacturing Establishments http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08780t.pdf
· Transportation Security: Transportation Security Administration Has Strengthened Planning to Guide Investments in Key Aviation and Surface Transportation Security Programs, but More Work Remains http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08487t.pdf
· U.S.-China Trade: USTR's China Compliance Reports and Plans Could Be Improved http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08405.pdf

Heritage Foundation
· How Reforms in Mexico Could Make the U.S. More Secure http://www.heritage.org/Research/LatinAmerica/upload/bg_2135.pdf

Human Rights Watch
· The Netherlands: Discrimination in the Name of Integration http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/2008/netherlands0508/netherlands0508web.pdf
· “Saving its Secrets”: Government Repression in Andijan http://hrw.org/reports/2008/uzbekistan0508/uzbekistan0508webwcover.pdf

International Crisis Group
· Congo: Four Priorities for Sustainable Peace in Ituri. http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5425&l=1
· Lebanon: Hizbollah’s Weapons Turn Inward http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5442&l=1
· The Philippines: Counter-insurgency vs. Counter-terrorism in Mindanao. http://www.crisisgroup.org/library/documents/asia/south_east_asia/152_counterinsurgency_vs_counter_terrorism_in_mindanao.pdf
International Relations and Security Network
· Lebanon Resumes Fragile Dialogue http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?id=18973
· Sadr Movement at a Crossroads http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?id=18964

Lexington Institute
· Obama and McCain Share Many Views on Defense. http://lexingtoninstitute.org/1264.shtml

NATO Defense College (NDC)
· Energy Security: NATO’s Limited, Complementary Role http://www.ndc.nato.int/download/publications/rp_36en.pdf
· The NATO Mediterranean Dialogue at a Crossroads http://www.ndc.nato.int/download/publications/rp_35en.pdf

Norwegian Institute of International Affairs
· Central Asia: A Testing Ground for New Great-Power Relations http://www.isn.ethz.ch/pubs/ph/details.cfm?id=49801

Peterson Institute for International Economics
· North Korea on the Precipice of Famine http://www.petersoninstitute.org/publications/pb/pb08-6.pdf

Pew Research Center for the People & the Press
· The Federal Government's Favorables Fall Even Farther http://pewresearch.org/pubs/836/opinion-federal-government-institutions

RAND
· Rethinking Counterinsurgency. http://rand.org/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG595.5.pdf

U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
· Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/docs/AdvanceVersions/CRC.C.OPAC.USA.Q1.Add1.doc

US Institute of Peace
· Analyzing Iran's Domestic Political Landscape http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/0513_iran.html

Washington Institute for Near East Policy
· Assessing the Annapolis Process. http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2835
· Highlighting al-Qaeda's Bankrupt Ideology. http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2836

White House
· Designation and Sharing of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/05/20080509-6.html

Friday's Miscellany -5-09-2008

Amnesty International
· Routinely Targeted: Attacks on Civilians in Somalia. http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AFR52/006/2008/en/1162a792-186e-11dd-92b4-6b0c2ef9d02f/afr520062008eng.pdf

Athena Intelligence Journal
· February 2008, v. 3, no. 1 Information Operations during Counterinsurgency Operations http://www.isn.ethz.ch/pubs/ph/details.cfm?id=48125

BASIC
· Iran Update, No. 118. http://www.basicint.org/update/iran080506.htm

Brookings Institution
· China's Competing Nationalisms. http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2008/0505_china_shambaugh.aspx
· Disaster in Myanmar: Key Challenges for the International Community http://www.brookings.edu/interviews/2008/0507_myanmar_rieffel.aspx
· Expand the U.S. Agenda toward Pakistan. http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/Projects/Opportunity08/PB_Pakistan_Riedel.pdf
· Human Rights and Natural Disasters. http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/reports/2008/spring_natural_disasters/spring_natural_disasters.pdf

Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Institute
· CFIS: A Foreign Intelligence Service for Canada. http://www.cdfai.org/PDF/CFISF.pdf

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
· Arab Reform Bulletin: May 2008. http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/fullissue-5-05-08.pdf
· What is at Stake in Kuwait’s Parliamentary Elections? http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/brown_kuwait_elections_FAQ_final.pdf

Center for a New American Security
· U.S.-South Korea Relations: Rekindling an Alliance Flame. http://www.cnas.org/attachments/contentmanagers/2090/US%20ROK%20Relations%20April%202008.pdf

Center for American Progress
· A New Peace Strategy for Northern Uganda and the LRA. http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/05/pdf/enough28.pdf

Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments
· Dissuasion Strategy http://www.csbaonline.org/4Publications/PubLibrary/R.20080506.Dissuasion_Strateg/R.20080506.Dissuasion_Strateg.pdf

Center for Strategic and International Studies
· The Iraq War: Key Trends and Developments. http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/080506_iraq_status_trend.pdf

Combat Studies Institute
· OP #27, "The Challenge of Adaptation: The US Army in the Aftermath of Conflict, 1953-2000" http://usacac.army.mil/CAC/csi/RandP/OP27.pdf

Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security. Republican Staff
· Tobacco and Terror: How Cigarette Smuggling is Funding Our Enemies Abroad http://chs-republicans.house.gov/list/hearing/homeland_rep/cigarettesmuggling.pdf

Congress. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Majority Staff
· Hospital Emergency Surge Capacity: Not Ready for the 'Predictable Surprise.' http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20080505101837.pdf OR http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1929

Congress. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
· China's Foreign Policy and "Soft Power" in South America, Asia, and Africa. [S. Prt. 110-46] http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2008_rpt/crs-china.pdf

Congress. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Majority and Minority Staff
· Violent Islamist Extremism, The Internet, and the Homegrown Terrorist Threat http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/_files/IslamistReport.pdf

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
· Capital Budgeting. http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/91xx/doc9167/05-08-Capital.pdf
· Nuclear Power's Role in Generating Electricity http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=9133&type=0
· Sources of the Growth and Decline in Individual Income Tax Revenues Since 1994 http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=9076&type=1
· Testimony on Current and Future Investment in Infrastructure. http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/91xx/doc9136/05-07-Infrastructure_Testimony.pdf

Foreign Policy Research Institute
· The Democratic Prospect in East Asia. http://www.fpri.org/enotes/200805.gershman.democraticprospecteastasia.html
· The Much Too Promised Land: America’s Elusive Search for Arab-Israeli Peace. http://www.fpri.org/enotes/200805.miller.muchtoopromisedland.html

Government Accountability Office (GAO)
· Aviation and the Environment: NextGen and Research and Development Are Keys to Reducing Emissions and Their Impact on Health and Climate, by Gerald L. Dillingham, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Aviation, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08706t.pdf
· Department of Homeland Security: Better Planning and Assessment Needed to Improve Outcomes for Complex Service Acquisitions http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08263.pdf
· Department of Homeland Security: Better Planning and Oversight Needed to Improve Complex Service Acquisition Outcomes, by John P. Hutton, director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the House Committee on Homeland Security http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08765t.pdf
· Employment Verification: Challenges Exist in Implementing a Mandatory Electronic Employment Verification System, by Richard M. Stana, director, homeland security and justice issues, before the Subcommittee on Social Security, House Committee on Ways and Means. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08729t.pdf
· Human Capital: Corps of Engineers Needs to Update Its Workforce Planning Process to More Effectively Address Its Current and Future Workforce Needs http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08596.pdf
· Human Capital: Transforming Federal Recruiting and Hiring Efforts, by Robert N. Goldenkoff, director, strategic issues, before the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08762t.pdf
· Interagency Contracting: Need for Improved Information and Policy Implementation at the Department of State. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08578.pdf
· Natural Catastrophe Insurance: Analysis of a Proposed Combined Federal Flood and Wind Insurance Program http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08504.pdf
· Physical Infrastructure: Challenges and Investment Options for the Nation's Infrastructure, by Patricia A. Dalton, managing director, physical infrastructure issues, before the House Committee on the Budget and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08763t.pdf
· Preliminary Observations on the Use and Oversight of U.S. Coalition Support Funds Provided to Pakistan http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08735r.pdf
· Value-Added Taxes: Lessons Learned from Other Countries on Compliance Risks, Administrative Costs, Compliance Burden, and Transition http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08566.pdf

Heritage Foundation
· The Best U.S. Export-Promotion Strategy: Free Trade. http://www.heritage.org/Research/TradeandForeignAid/upload/hl_1084.pdf
· Magnequench: CFIUS and China's Thirst for U.S. Defense Technology. http://www.heritage.org/Research/AsiaandthePacific/wm1913.cfm
· NATO: "Finding a Way Ahead". http://www.heritage.org/Research/Europe/upload/hl_1083.pdf
· Russia's Presidential Transition: Vladimir Putin Remains in Charge. http://www.heritage.org/Research/RussiaandEurasia/upload/wm_1917.pdf

International Relations and Security Network
· EU: Green light for Galileo http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?id=18952
· The Golan, via Ankara http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?id=18947
· Rice: Timor's Next Crisis http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?ID=18933

Lexington Institute
· The Next Quadrennial Defense Review Needs to be Delayed http://lexingtoninstitute.org/1262.shtml

National Counterterrorism Center
· 2007 Report on Terrorism [official link -- http://wits.nctc.gov/reports/crot2007nctcannexfinal.pdf but not working so use http://www.terrorisminfo.mipt.org/pdf/NCTC-2007-Report-on-Terrorism.pdf

National Interest online
· All the World’s a Stage http://www.nationalinterest.org/Article.aspx?id=17502

Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Dr. Donald Kerr, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, address to the 14th Annual Intelligence Community Inspectors General Conference. http://www.dni.gov/speeches/20080508_speech.pdf

Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction
· Sarwaran Primary School Under the Commander's Emergency Response Program, Erbil, Iraq. [SIGIR PA-08-120] http://www.sigir.mil/reports/pdf/assessments/pa-08-120.pdf

Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life
· Religion in China on the Eve of the 2008 Beijing Olympics http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=301

Public Agenda
· Confidence in U.S. Foreign Policy Index Energy - v. 6, Spring 2008 -- Economy New Focal Points for Anxiety Over U.S. Foreign Policy http://www.publicagenda.org/foreignpolicy/pdfs/foreign_policy_index_spring08.pdf

RAND
· Afghanistan: State and Society, Great Power Politics, and the Way Ahead: Findings from an International Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2007. http://rand.org/pubs/conf_proceedings/2008/RAND_CF238.pdf
· Breaking the Failed-State Cycle http://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/2008/RAND_OP204.pdf · Identifying DG SANCO's Future Challenges 2009-2014 http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/2008/RAND_TR570.pdf
· Performance Evaluation and Army Recruiting http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG562.pdf

US Institute of Peace
· Is Liberia’s Governance and Economic Management Assistance Program a "Necessary Intrusion?" http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2008/0506_liberia.html

Washington Institute for Near East Policy
· Assessing the Annapolis Process. http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2835
· Highlighting al-Qaeda's Bankrupt Ideology. http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2836

REPORT -- Mass Gathering - health, safety and security

FYI - the House Committee on Homeland Security Majority Staff have
published a new report examining "Public Health, Safety, and Security
for Mass Gatherings." This is a comprehensive report and it includes 30
recommendations for what should be done by levels of government as well
as the private sector in the event of an act of terrorism or any other
from of disaster. The report is available directly at

http://homeland.house.gov/SiteDocuments/20080513105623-98169.pdf .

The press release is available at
http://homeland.house.gov/press/index.asp?ID=373

REPORT: Violent Islamist Extremism and homegrown terrorist threat

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has released its majority and minority staff report entitled "Violent Islamist Extremism, The Internet, and the Homegrown Terrorist Threat." It can be found at http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/_files/IslamistReport.pdf or from the Committee's website http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/

The press release is available at http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuseaction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=05ba1a5e-94ee-411c-8340-59ca8f237094&Month=5&Year=2008&Affiliation=C

REPORT -- Hospital Emergency Surge Capacity - we're not ready

This has been in the news a lot due to the indications that many hospitals don’t have the ability to respond to a mass casualty event such as a terrorist attack or a natural disaster.

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Majority Staff has released its report "Hospital Emergency Surge Capacity: Not Ready for the 'Predictable Surprise.'" The report is available at http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20080505101837.pdf

For the links to the related snapshot reports for various hospitals as well as information about the hearings being held this week, go to http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1929

Links for the prepared testimony of the various witnesses are also available at this site.

Friday's Miscellany 05-02-2008

Administrative Office of the United States Courts

· 2007 Wiretap Report (For the Period January 1 Through December 31, 2007) http://www.uscourts.gov/wiretap07/contents.html

American Enterprise Institute

· Dictating Norms: Who Decides What Is Right for the World?: The Inauguration of Global Governance Watch http://www.aei.org/events/filter.all,eventID.1706/transcript.asp

· Dissent and Reform in the Arab World: Empowering Democrats: A Report of the American Enterprise Institute Dissent and Reform in the Arab World Project http://www.aei.org/books/bookID.923,filter.foreign/book_detail.asp

· Turkey’s Uncertain Future: A Symposium. http://www.american.com/archive/2008/april-04-08/turkey2019s-uncertain-future-a-symposium

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

· France and Nuclear Disarmament: The Meaning of the Sarkozy Speech http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=20090&prog=zgp&proj=znpp

Center for Global Development (CGD)

· Power and Roads for Africa http://www.isn.ethz.ch/pubs/ph/details.cfm?id=50254

Center for a New American Security (CNAS)

· U.S.-South Korea Relations: Rekindling an Alliance Flame http://www.cnas.org/attachments/contentmanagers/2090/US%20ROK%20Relations%20April%202008.pdf

Center for Strategic and International Studies

· Analysis of the National Counterterrorism Center Annual Report on Terrorism http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/080501_heyman_nctc.pdf

· The Close of the Mugabe Era http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/080429_bellamymorrison.pdf

· Colombia: Making Military Progress Pay Off http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5410&l=1

· Reviving Turkey’s Stalled EU Drive? http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/080430_reviving_turkeys_stalled_eu.pdf

· Trends in European Defense Spending, 2001-2006 http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/080424-chao-europeandefense.pdf

· War in Iraq: The Public Perspectives http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/080430_langer-csis.pdf

Congress. House Armed Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

· Agency Stovepipes Versus Strategic Agility--Lessons We Need to Learn from Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Iraq and Afghanistanhttp://armedservices.house.gov/pdfs/Reports/PRT_Report.pdf

· Deploying Federal Civilians to the Battlefield--Incentives, Benefits and Medical Care http://armedservices.house.gov/pdfs/Reports/CiviliansonBattlefieldReport.pdf

Congress. House Committee on Oversight and Government

· The Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle—Over Budget, Behind Schedule, and Unreliable http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20080429102534.pdf

Congressional Budget Office

· Aviation Investment and Modernization Act of 2008 http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=9183&type=1

· Preliminary Analysis of a Proposal for Comprehensive Health Insurance http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=9184&type=1

Department of Homeland Security

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

Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General

· Follow-Up Healthcare Inspection: VA’s Role in Ensuring Services for Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans after Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation http://www.va.gov/oig/54/reports/VAOIG-08-01023-119.pdf

Environmental Defense Fund [and NACCHo and GMU]

· Are we Ready? Preparing for the Public Health Challenges of Climate Change http://www.edf.org/documents/7846_AreWeReady_April2008.pdf

Foreign Policy Research Institute

· Los Zetas: the Ruthless Army Spawned by a Mexican Drug Cartel http://www.fpri.org/enotes/200805.grayson.loszetas.html

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

· Chemical Assessments: Low Productivity and New Interagency Review Process Limit the Usefulness and Credibility of EPA's Integrated Risk Information System http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08440.pdf

· Defense Acquisitions: Results of Annual Assessment of DOD Weapon Programs http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08674t.pdf

· Defense Infrastructure: Planning Efforts for the Proposed Military Buildup on Guam Are in Their Initial Stages, with Many Challenges Yet to Be Addressed http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08722t.pdf

· Defense Transportation: DOD Should Ensure that the Final Size and Mix of Airlift Force Study Plan Includes Sufficient Detail to Meet the Terms of the Law and Inform Decision Makers http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08704r.pdf

· Economic and Other Implications of Switching from Coal to Natural Gas at the Capitol Power Plant and at Electricity-Generating Units Nationwide http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08601r.pdf

· Global HIV/AIDS: A More Country-Based Approach Could Improve Allocation of PEPFAR Funding http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08480.pdf

· Global HIV/AIDS: Survey of PEPFAR Country Team Officials (supplement) http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08534sp.pdf

· Health and Safety Information: EPA and OSHA Could Improve Their Processes for Preparing Communication Products http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08265.pdf

· Military Transformation: DOD Needs to Strengthen Implementation of Its Global Strike Concept and Provide a Comprehensive Investment Approach for Acquiring Needed Capabilities http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08325.pdf

· U.S. Capitol Police: Status of Efforts to Address Prior GAO Recommendations on Administrative and Management Operations http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08540t.pdf

· VA and DOD Health Care: Progress Made on Implementation of 2003 President's Task Force Recommendations on Collaboration and Coordination, but More Remains to Be Done http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08495r.pdf

Henry L. Stimson Center

· Designating Countries of Particular Concern: Religious Freedom within the U.S. Foreign Policy Agenda http://www.stimson.org/pub.cfm?ID=603
· Global Food Fight http://www.stimson.org/pub.cfm?id=604

Heritage Foundation

· Congress Should Fund Development of Air-to-Air Missile Defense Technology http://www.heritage.org/Research/NationalSecurity/upload/wm_1904.pdf

· Petraeus Hearing Should Focus on Three Fronts, One Long War http://www.heritage.org/Research/HomelandSecurity/wm1908.cfm

· Playing "Whack-a-Mole" with North Koreahttp://www.heritage.org/Research/AsiaandthePacific/upload/wm_1905.pdf

· The U.S. Should Reject the U.N. "Responsibility to Protect" Doctrine http://www.heritage.org/Research/InternationalOrganizations/upload/bg_2130.pdf

· The West Should Unite in Support of Georgiahttp://www.heritage.org/Research/RussiaandEurasia/upload/wm_1907.pdf

· Yucca Mountain Remains Critical to Spent Nuclear Fuel Management http://www.heritage.org/Research/EnergyandEnvironment/upload/bg_2131.pdf

Human Rights Watch

· “Every Morning They Beat Me”: Police Abuses in Burundihttp://hrw.org/reports/2008/burundi0408/burundi0408webwcover.pdf

· Vote to Nowhere: The May 2008 Constitutional Referendum in Burmahttp://hrw.org/reports/2008/burma0508/burma0508webwcover.pdf

· “Walking on Thin Ice”: Control, Intimidation and Harassment of Lawyers in Chinahttp://www.hrw.org/reports/2008/china0408/china0408webwcover.pdf

Institute for Science and International Security

· The Candidates' Positions-Iran and the Nuclear Fuel Cycle http://www.isis-online.org/publications/iran/CandidatesonIranandFuelCycleReport.pdf

· Presidential Candidates on Iran's Nuclear Program-April Update http://www.isis-online.org/publications/iran/PresidentialCandidatesApril.pdf

International Crisis Group

· Colombia: Making Military Progress Pay Off http://www.crisisgroup.org/library/documents/latin_america/b17_colombia_making_military_progress_pay_off.pdf

· Iraq after the Surge I: The New Sunni Landscape http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5415&l=1

· Iraq after the Surge II: The Need for a New Political Strategy http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5418&l=1

· Restoring Democracy in Bangladesh, Asia Report Restoring Democracy in Bangladeshhttp://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5408&l=1

International Rice Research Institute

· The Rice Crisis: What Needs to be Done? http://solutions.irri.org/images/the_rice_crisis.pdf

Jamestown Foundation

· China Brief http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/uploads/cb_008_009a.pdf

· Terrorism Focus http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/uploads/tf_005_017.pdf

Lexington Institute

· Boeing and the Air Force at War: The Damage Spreads http://lexingtoninstitute.org/1260.shtml

National Security Archive [GWU]

· Air Force Histories Show Cautious Presidents Overruling Air Force Plans for Early Use of Nuclear Weapons http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nukevault/ebb249/index.htm

Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)

· Background Briefing with Senior U.S. Officials on Syria’s Covert Nuclear Reactor and North Korea’s Involvement http://odni.gov/interviews/20080424_interview.pdf

RAND

· Fiscally Informed Total Force Manpower http://rand.org/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG606.pdf

· Methodology for Improving the Planning, Execution, and Assessment of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Operations http://rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/2008/RAND_TR459.pdf

· Rethinking Counterinsurgency: RAND Counterinsurgency Study -- Volume 5 http://rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG595.5/

· Strategies for Disrupting Illegal Firearm Markets: A Case Study of Los Angeleshttp://rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/2008/RAND_TR512.pdf

Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR)

· Quarterly Report to Congress http://www.sigir.mil/reports/quarterlyreports/Apr08/pdf/Report_-_April_2008.pdf

· 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 Iraqhttp://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

State Department

· 2007 Country Report on Terrorism http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2007/

Strategic Studies Institute

· Global Climate Change National Security Implications http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/PUB862.pdf

· Operation Iraqi Freedom: Selected Bibliography http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/of-interest-11.pdf

· Prospects from Korean Unification http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/PUB859.pdf

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

· Human Rights and the Basis for EU Sanctions against Iranhttp://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2821

· A Roadmap for the Foreign Terrorist Organizations List http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2808

· Tackling Turkey's Image Problem in the European Union http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2820

REPORT -- State Dept's Country Report on Terrorism 2007

The State Department has released its latest "Country Report on
Terrorism." This report is required by law and until 2004 was called the
"Patterns of Global Terrorism." The html version of the 2007 is now
available at http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2007/

Previous reports [2006-2000] can be found at
http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt and the archive [1995-1999] of the
earlier reports can be found at
http://www.state.gov/www/global/terrorism/annual_reports.html