CFR.org - Defense/Homeland Security

Unclassified Report on the President's Surveillance Program

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:09:19 -0400

Preface:

Title III of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments Act of 2008 required the Inspectors General (IGs) of the elements of the Intelligence Community that participated in the President's Surveillance Program (PSP) to conduct a comprehensive review of the program. The IGs of the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence participated in the review required under the Act. The Act required the IGs to submit a comprehensive report on the review to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the House Committee on the Judiciary.

In response to Title III requirements, we have prepared this unclassified report on the PSP, which summarizes the collective results of our reviews. Because many aspects of the PSP remain classified, and in order to provide the Congressional committees the complete results of our reviews, we also prepared, and have bound separately, a classified report on the PSP. The individual reports detailing the results of each IG's review are annexes to the classified report .

The Pentagon’s Wasting Assets

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:38:03 -0400

The military foundations of U.S. dominance are eroding. In response, Washington should pursue new sources of military advantage and a more modest grand strategy.

Pirates, Then and Now

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:36:34 -0400

To defeat piracy in centuries past, governments pursued a more active defense at sea and a political solution on land. The current piracy epidemic off the coast of East Africa requires many of the same tactics.

Can the Right War Be Won?

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:20:14 -0400

Two new books offer insightful analyses of how to succeed in Afghanistan.

Get Smart

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:56:20 -0400

Leslie Gelb's skepticism of "smart power" is misguided; it is only by combining the strategies of both hard and soft power that the United States can achieve its ends.

U.S. Immigration Policy: Report of a CFR-Sponsored Independent Task Force (Audio)

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:00:58 -0400

Listen to the CFR-sponsored Independent Task Force on U.S. Immigration Policy Co-Chairs discuss the report, which concludes that the failure to reform immigration laws and procedures threatens to harm America’s economy, jeopardize its diplomacy, and weaken its national security.

U.S. Immigration Policy: Report of a CFR-Sponsored Independent Task Force (Video)

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:00:41 -0400

Watch the CFR-sponsored Independent Task Force on U.S. Immigration Policy Co-Chairs discuss the report, which concludes that the failure to reform immigration laws and procedures threatens to harm America’s economy, jeopardize its diplomacy, and weaken its national security.

United States-Russia Military Transit Agreement

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:31:56 -0400

On July 6, 2009, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Undersecretary of State William Burns concluded an agreement that will enable the United States to transport its military personnel and equipment across Russia to support American and Coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Tactical Directive from the NATO Commander, International Security Assistance Force

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:30:17 -0400

The Commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), General Stanley McChrystal, issued a revised Tactical Directive on 02 July 2009. The Tactical Directive provides guidance and intent for the employment of force in support of ISAF operations and updates the previous version issued by the previous commancer in October 2008. This directive also applies to all U.S. forces operating under the control of U.S. Forces -Afghanistan (USFOR-A).

Media Conference Call: The Obama-Medvedev Summit

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:44:53 -0400

CFR Experts Charles D. Ferguson and Stephen Sestanovich discuss the Obama-Medvedev summit.

Obama's Summit in Russia: Which Side 'Blinks' First?

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:31:40 -0400

CFR's top Russia expert, Stephen Sestanovich, says there is a potential for some hard bargaining to take place over arms control at the July 6-8 summit of U.S. and Russian leaders.

Security Council Meeting on Complex Situation in Afghanistan, June 2009

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:15:40 -0400

Statement

Press Conference with Gen. Ray Odierno on MNF Forces in Iraq, June 2009

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:05:38 -0400

Speech

Iraq at Crossroads Amid U.S. Disengagement

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:08:40 -0400

As U.S. combat forces begin to withdraw from Iraq's cities, expert Kenneth M. Pollack says he remains "very concerned" about the political situation in Iraq. He stresses the need for the "continued attention" of the United States to bring about a stable Iraq.

Politico: U.S. Must Deloy More Foreign Diplomacy Personnel

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:02:24 -0400

Eight former Secretaries of State jointly argue that national security requires more sufficient personnel in this article on funding for development and diplomacy.

Funding the U.S. Counterinsurgency Wars

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:00:32 -0400

In the next military budget Congress must provide funding for a wholesale shift toward counterinsurgency to win two wars. At the same time, policymakers must be mindful of the need for another transformation to anticipate future wars.

Mission Not Accomplished

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:35:56 -0400

Leslie H. Gelb and Jeanne-Paloma Zelmati analyze the print reporting leading up to the war in Iraq, and draw conclusions about the media's successes and failures.

Bibi Speaks

Council on Foreign Relations — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 11:55:54 -0400

Elliott Abrams argues, "In Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech today he took one major step toward the Obama administration, by endorsing a Palestinian state. In every other way, he resisted President Obama's pressure."

Holbrooke's Speech on Travels to Pakistan, June 2009

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:49:16 -0400

Speech

Cyberspace Policy Review, May 2009

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:10:56 -0400

Report

A View from the Hill: U.S. National Security

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 29 May 2009 09:50:02 -0400

Writing in Roll Call earlier this week, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee John M. McHugh stated, "Republicans in Congress appreciate the administration's efforts to shape the [Defense] Department so we can more effectively fight the wars our troops are engaged in today. However... we remain deeply concerned about the trade-offs involved in the so-called rebalancing of the Pentagon." Given the current political realities, what role will Republicans play in shaping future U.S. national security policy? Read Representative John M. McHugh's address on U.S. National Security.

The ISI and Terrorism: Behind the Accusations

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 28 May 2009 11:00:00 -0400

Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI, faces persistent accusations of links to terrorism, despite repeated denials.

Justifiable Wars (Audio)

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 28 May 2009 10:27:02 -0400

Listen to CFR President Richard N. Haass discuss his new book, War of Necessity, War of Choice: A Memoir of Two Iraq Wars, as part of CFR's Religion and Foreign Policy Conference Call series.

A View from the Hill: U.S. National Security (Audio)

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:00:52 -0400

Listen to Representative John M. McHugh provide his insights on the role will Republicans play in shaping future U.S. national security policy.

A View from the Hill: U.S. National Security (Video)

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:00:39 -0400

Watch Representative John M. McHugh provide his insights on the role will Republicans play in shaping future U.S. national security policy.

Vice President Cheney's remarks at the American Enterprise Institute

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:26:05 -0400

Right now there is considerable debate in this city about the measures our administration took to defend the American people.

Today I want to set forth the strategic thinking behind our policies. I do so as one who was there every day of the Bush Administration - who supported the policies when they were made, and without hesitation would do so again in the same circumstances.

Remarks of President Barack Obama at the National Archives Museum

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 21 May 2009 10:43:50 -0400

Remarks of President Barack Obama on Protecting Our Security and Our Values.

WP: The Best Guide for Gitmo? Look to Singapore.

Council on Foreign Relations — Sun, 17 May 2009 14:06:00 -0400

As the Obama administration contemplates what to do with the detainees who remain in Guantanamo, Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) in Singapore--which tries to rehabilitate terrorist detainees--could provide a model.

War of Necessity, War of Choice

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:47:26 -0400

In this compelling book, Richard N. Haass contrasts the decisions that shaped the conduct of two wars between the United States and Iraq involving the two presidents Bush and Saddam Hussein, and writes an authoritative, personal account of how U.S. foreign policy is made, what it should seek, and how it should be pursued.

War of Necessity, War of Choice: A Memoir of Two Iraq Wars (Audio)

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:00:35 -0400

Listen to Richard N. Haass speak about his book War of Necessity, War of Choice: A Memoir of Two Iraq Wars, which details how and why the two wars resulted from two different policymaking processes, approaches to U.S. foreign policy, and presidential personalities.