FAS Roundup: July 8, 2013 U.S. nuclear arsenal size now classified, overview of British nuclear forces and much more.

rsenal size now classified, overview of British nuclear forces and much more.

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FAS Roundup: July 8, 2013 U.S. nuclear arsenal size now classified, overview of British nuclear forces and much more.

Overview of British Nuclear Forces In the new Nuclear Notebook, Hans Kristensen, Director of the Nuclear Information Project, and Robert Norris, Senior Fellow for Nuclear Policy, provide an overview of British nuclear forces from 1953 to 2013. During this time period, it is estimated that the British produced about 1,250 nuclear warheads. From a peak of about 500 warheads in the period between 1974 and 1981, the UK arsenal has now been reduced to some 225 weapons. Read the article here.

From the Blogs Pentagon Reverts to Nuclear Stockpile Secrecy: In 2010, the Department of Defense declassified the size of the U.S. nuclear arsenal, which was an unprecedented breakthrough in secrecy reform, as this information had never been disclosed. However, the Pentagon has reverted back to secrecy and classified the information regarding the size of the U.S. arsenal. Russian Missle Test Creates Confusion and Opposition in Washington: The recent test-launch of a modified Russian ballistic missile has nuclear arms reduction opponents up in arms with claims that Russia is fielding a new missile in violation of arms control agreements and that the United States therefore should not pursue further reductions of nuclear forces. Although many of the facts are missing – what the missile is and what the U.S. Intelligence Community has concluded – public information and statements indicate that the missile is a modified RS-24 Yars (SS-27 Mod 2) with intercontinental range. Whatever the missile is, it is certainly no reason for why the United States should not seek to reduce U.S. and Russian nuclear forces further. NSA Surveillance and the Failure of Intelligence Oversight: Recent disclosures of NSA collection of records of US telephone and email traffic have some unfortunate parallels and precedents in the early history of the Agency that were thought to have been repudiated forever. Steven Aftergood writes that post World War 11, the NSA established three other programs which targeted the private communications of U.S. citizen; information about these programs was declassified in the 1970s. U.S.-Egypt Relations and More from CRS: Secrecy News has obtained recently released CRS reports on topics such as obstacles to apprehending Edward Snowden, President Obama's new climate action plan and ballistic missile defense in the Asia-Pacific region. Historians See Crisis in Declassification: Last week, the State Department's Historical Advisory Committee (HAC) said that government programs to declassify national security information are not meeting public expectations, the needs of historians, or even the requirements of law. A 1991 statute mandated that the State Department publish the documentary record of U.S. foreign policy  no later than 30 years after the events described.  That requirement is not being fulfilled and, the HAC said, is unlikely to be met any time soon due to “substantial delays in the declassification and publication processes.”

Workshop on Terrorism Analysis FAS Senior Fellow on State and Non-State Threats Mr. Charles Blair will be hosting a workshop  at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, titled Terrorism Analysis: Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methodologies and Tools on July 25-26, 2013. This non-credit course introduces participants to a variety of quantitative and qualitative methodologies for the study of terrorism and learn how to create and utilize analytical tools for preventing, preparing for, responding to, or predicting terrorism. Due to overwhelming demand, early bird registration has been extended until July 15. For more information on the workshop and to register and save 25%, click here.

FAS in the News Jul 2: Global Security Newswire, "The Number Of Times We Could Blow Up The Earth Is Once Again A Secret" Jul 2: International Business Times, "Warrantless Surveillance? The NSA Did It Before, At Least Three Times" Jul 2: The Moscow Times, "Moscow Should Stop Stonewalling On Arms Cuts" Jul 2: CNN, "U.S. Intelligence Community Is Out Of Control" Jul 2: The Center for Public Integrity, "New Protections Coming For Disgruntled Intelligence Workers"

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