Secrecy News -- 07/27/07 (Cloaks)
Steven Aftergood
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
Volume 2007, Issue No. 78
July 27, 2007
** 9/11 BILL REQUIRES INTELLIGENCE BUDGET DISCLOSURE
** CRS REPORTS ON VARIOUS TOPICS
9/11 BILL REQUIRES INTELLIGENCE BUDGET DISCLOSURE
For the first time since it began debating the issue more than three
decades ago, Congress is now poised to adopt legislation that will
require -- not merely recommend -- public disclosure of the total
national intelligence budget.
"Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year beginning with
fiscal year 2007, the Director of National Intelligence shall disclose
to the public the aggregate amount of funds appropriated by Congress for
the National Intelligence Program for such fiscal year," states the
House-Senate conference agreement on H.R. 1 (section 601), the massive
bill to implement recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.
Excerpts from the conference report concerning intelligence budget
disclosure, declassification and related issues are posted here:
http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2007_cr/hr1-intel.html
The conference bill has already been approved in the Senate and is
expected to win final approval in the House as early as today.
If enacted into law, it would lead to the first authorized disclosure of
current U.S. intelligence spending since the aggregate budgets were
disclosed in 1997 ($26.6 billion) and 1998 ($26.7 billion) in response
to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit brought by the Federation of
American Scientists. (Those figures included spending on "national" as
well as "tactical" intelligence.)
The Bush White House has expressed opposition to intelligence budget
disclosure but is not expected to veto the entire 9/11 bill on that
basis.
"The Administration strongly opposes the requirement in the bill to
publicly disclose sensitive information about the intelligence budget,"
according to a February 28 statement of administration policy.
"Disclosure, including disclosure to the Nation's enemies and
adversaries in a time of war, of the amounts requested by the President
and provided by the Congress for the conduct of the Nation's
intelligence activities would provide no meaningful information to the
general American public, but would provide significant intelligence to
America's adversaries and could cause damage to the national security
interests of the United States."
Hardly anyone agrees with that assessment.
The bipartisan 9/11 Commission came to almost the opposite conclusion:
"The top-line figure by itself provides little insight into U.S.
intelligence sources and methods.... But when even aggregate categorical
numbers remain hidden, it is hard to judge priorities and foster
accountability." (Final Report, p. 416)
In a compromise with Administration opponents, the House-Senate
conference agreed that, beginning in 2009, the President could waive the
disclosure requirement by submitting a statement to Congress that budget
disclosure in that particular year could damage national security. The
legislation does not allow for a waiver in 2007 or 2008.
The conference legislation also includes provisions to strengthen the
Public Interest Declassification Board, and to require declassification
of the executive summary of a CIA Inspector General report on events
leading up to 9/11.
CRS REPORTS ON VARIOUS TOPICS
Recent reports of the Congressional Research Service that have not been
made readily available to the public include the following.
"U.N. Convention Against Torture (CAT): Overview and Application to
Interrogation Techniques," updated January 12, 2007:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/intel/RL32438.pdf
"Zimbabwe: Current Issues," updated June 21, 2007:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL32723.pdf
"Haiti: Developments and U.S. Policy Since 1991 and Current
Congressional Concerns," updated June 21, 2007:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL32294.pdf
"Japan's Currency Intervention: Policy Issues," updated July 13, 2007:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33178.pdf
"Kosovo and U.S. Policy: Background and Current Issues," updated July 3,
2007:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL31053.pdf
"Kosovo's Future Status and U.S. Policy," updated July 12, 2007:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RS21721.pdf
"Federal Crime Control: Background, Legislation, and Issues," updated
June 12, 2007:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL32824.pdf
"Sea-Based Ballistic Missile Defense -- Background and Issues for
Congress," updated June 26, 2007:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL33745.pdf
_______________________________________________
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_______________________
Steven Aftergood
Project on Government Secrecy
Federation of American Scientists
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