June 05, 2008

War Crimes Dossier: recent updates on reforms of government misconduct - FAS.org

SECRECY NEWS
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy

Volume 2008, Issue No. 54
June 4, 2008

Secrecy News Blog: http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/

Support Secrecy News
http://www.fas.org/sgp/donate.html


** OBAMA INTRODUCES NEW TRANSPARENCY LEGISLATION
** OPEN SOURCE CENTER VIEWS ANIMAL POX VIRUS RESEARCH
** DOD: DETAINEES ARE TO BE TREATED HUMANELY, NO EXCEPTIONS


OBAMA INTRODUCES NEW TRANSPARENCY LEGISLATION

On the same day that he became the presumptive Democratic nominee for
President, Sen. Barack Obama introduced new legislation to expand
public access to information about government spending.

The bill, known as "The Strengthening Transparency and Accountability
in Federal Spending Act of 2008," was crafted on a bi-partisan basis
with Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK).

Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, is also an
original co-sponsor of the bill, as is Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE).

The new bill would build upon and improve previous efforts by Senators
Obama and Coburn to provide public access to federal grant and contract
information through the USASpending.gov web site. Among other things,
it would require copies of each federal contract and details of the
bidding process to be published online.

The provisions of the bill were outlined in a joint press release on
June 3.

http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/2008/06/obama-coburn.html

"People from every State in this great Nation sent us to Congress to
defend their rights and stand up for their interests," Sen. Obama said
in a prepared floor statement. "To do that we have to tear down the
barriers that separate citizens from the democratic process and to
shine a brighter light on the inner workings of Washington. This bill
helps to shine that light."

http://www.fas.org/sgp/congress/2008/s3077.html

While most government agencies have cooperated with the contracting
transparency requirements that were adopted in 2006, some intelligence
agencies have dragged their heels in opposition. The Defense
Intelligence Agency and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency,
which used to disclose their unclassified contracts, actually withheld
such information from the USASpending.gov database in 2007 and 2008
(Secrecy News, Dec. 18, 2007).


OPEN SOURCE CENTER VIEWS ANIMAL POX VIRUS RESEARCH

Dozens of countries are conducting research involving animal pox
viruses, according to a descriptive survey performed for the U.S.
intelligence community's Open Source Center.

There are various potential public health and security concerns
associated with pox viruses (such as smallpox), the OSC report says in
a background discussion.

"Naturally occurring smallpox disease was eliminated worldwide in 1977.
Routine vaccination of US civilians against smallpox was discontinued in
1971, but allowed for travelers to endemic regions until the late 1970s.
In most other countries, vaccination of the general population ended by
1982. As a result of this halt in vaccination, most of the US
population could now become ill with smallpox disease should it be
reintroduced by accident or intentionally."

"In addition, humans are susceptible to several naturally occurring
viruses related to smallpox, one of which could become a serious
disease risk through natural evolution. Routine smallpox vaccination
previously protected against these viruses. Finally, there is concern
about the potential creation of a genetically engineered poxvirus that
might be markedly pathogenic for humans."

Like most finished intelligence products from the Open Source Center,
the report on animal pox viruses has not been approved for public
release. But a copy was obtained independently by Secrecy News.

See "Recent Worldwide Research on Animal Pox Viruses," MITRE
Corporation, January 2008:

http://www.fas.org/irp/dni/osc/pox.pdf


DOD: DETAINEES ARE TO BE TREATED HUMANELY, NO EXCEPTIONS

Not even a valid intelligence requirement can be used to justify cruel
treatment of a detained enemy combatant, according to Defense
Department doctrine on "detainee operations."

The Joint Chiefs of Staff last week issued a slightly revised version
of that DoD doctrine on detainees (the second revision this year).

The document reaffirms that all detainees must be treated humanely.

"Inhumane treatment of detainees is prohibited by the Uniform Code of
Military Justice, domestic and international law, and DOD policy.
There is no exception to this humane treatment requirement."

"Accordingly, the stress of combat operations, the need for
intelligence, or deep provocation by captured and/or detained personnel
does not justify deviation from this obligation."

See Joint Publication 3-63, "Detainee Operations," 30 May 2008:

http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/dod/jp3_63.pdf
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