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Terrorist Financing: The 9/11 Commission Recommendation

Description: This report discusses the 9/11 Commission's recommendation that the U.S. government shift the focus of its efforts to counter terrorist financing from a strategy based on seizing terrorist assets to a strategy based on exploiting intelligence gathered from financial investigations.
Date: February 25, 2005
Creator: Weiss, Martin A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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USA PATRIOT Act Sunset: A Sketch

Description: This report discusses the sunset of a handful of communications-related sections of the USA PATRIOT Act and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act on March 10, 2006. The authority of the expiring sections remains in effect only as it relates to foreign intelligence investigations begun before sunset or to offenses or potential offenses begun or occurring before that date. Thereafter, the law reverts to its previous form unless it has been amended in the interim or subsequently ren… more
Date: February 6, 2006
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Middle East Peace Talks

Description: This report examines the current climate regarding peace talks in the Middle East. Congress is interested in the peace talks because of its oversight role in the conduct of U.S. foreign policy, its support for Israel, and keen constituent interest. It is concerned about U.S. financial and other commitments and the Palestinians' fulfillment of their commitments to Israel.
Date: February 9, 2006
Creator: Migdalovitz, Carol
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Intelligence Issues for Congress

Description: This report discusses legislative initiatives to address the challenges facing the U.S. Intelligence Community in the 21st century. Growing concerns about transnational threats, especially terrorism, are leading to increasingly close cooperation between intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
Date: February 17, 2005
Creator: Best, Richard A., Jr.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Nonproliferation and Threat Reduction Assistance: U.S. Programs in the Former Soviet Union

Description: This report summarizes many issues raised in Congressional debates on the future of U.S. nonproliferation and threat reduction assistance. However, it first reviews the history of these programs, describing their origins in 1991, their expansion and evolution during the 1990s, and the changes in their direction during the first two years of the Bush Administration. The report also provides a broad summary of many of the program areas and projects supported by U.S. funding.
Date: February 23, 2007
Creator: Woolf, Amy F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Airborne Laser Anti-Missile Program

Description: This report summarizes the Air Force's program to build an airborne laser (ABL) to destroy ballistic missiles in their boost phase. Furthermore, the report considers the history of the impact small nations can have with warheads and of the Gulf War. The Air Force suggests that the ABL will be able to destroy missiles from tens to hundreds of Kilometers away.
Date: February 18, 2000
Creator: Davey, Michael E. & Martin, Frederick
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Peacekeeping/Stabilization and Conflict Transitions: Background and Congressional Action on the Civilian Response/Reserve Corps and other Civilian Stabilization and Reconstruction Capabilities

Description: In its second session, the 110th Congress enacted legislation that "operationalizes" the Department of State and other federal agencies for S&R efforts by authorizing the creation of federal civilian "response" units, as well as the creation of a volunteer S&R civilian reserve force. This report provides background on these issues and discusses proposals and tracks related legislative action.
Date: February 5, 2009
Creator: Serafino, Nina M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Covert Action: Legislative Background and Possible Policy Questions

Description: This report examines the statutory procedures governing covert action and associated questions to consider. Published reports have suggested that the Pentagon has expanded its counter-terrorism intelligence activities, and some observers have asserted that the Department of Defense (DOD) may have been conducting certain kinds of counterterrorism intelligence activities that would statutorily qualify as "covert actions," and thus require a presidential finding and the notification of the congres… more
Date: February 9, 2009
Creator: Cumming, Alfred
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The National Security Council: An Organizational Assessment

Description: This study reviews the organizational history of the National Security Council (NSC) and other related components of the Executive Office regarding their changing role in the national security policy process. It is intended to provide information on the NSC's development as well as subsequent usage.
Date: February 6, 2009
Creator: Best, Richard A., Jr.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Iran Sanctions Act (ISA)

Description: This report discusses the increasing international pressure on Iran to curb its nuclear program and how that pressure discourages foreign firms from investing in Iran's energy sector, hindering Iran's efforts to expand oil production. It also discusses the history and progress of the formal U.S. effort to curb energy investment in Iran, which began with the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) in 1996
Date: February 2, 2009
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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North Korea's Nuclear Weapons: Technical Issues

Description: This report summarizes what is known from open sources about the North Korean nuclear weapons program--including weapons-usable fissile material and warhead estimates--and assesses current developments in achieving denuclearization.
Date: February 12, 2009
Creator: Nikitin, Mary Beth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Navy Nuclear Aircraft Carrier (CVN) Homeporting at Mayport: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Navy's proposal to homeport a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (CVN) at Mayport, Florida. Transferring a CVN from Norfolk, Virginia, to Mayport would also shift the local economic activity associated with homeporting a CVN, which some sources estimate as being worth hundreds of millions of dollars per year.
Date: February 25, 2009
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Homeland Security: Defending U.S. Airspace

Description: The September 11th attacks drew attention to U.S. air defense, and the 9/11 Commission Report recommended that Congress regularly assess the ability of Northern Command to defend the United States against military threats. Protecting U.S. airspace may require improvements in detecting aircraft and cruise missiles, making quick operational decisions, and intercepting them. A number of options exist in each of these areas. A variety of issues must be weighed including expediency, cost, and minimi… more
Date: February 11, 2005
Creator: Bolkcom, Christopher
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Homeland Security: Coast Guard Operations--Background and Issues for Congress

Description: In response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Coast Guard significantly increased homeland-security operations to protect U.S. ports and waterways from potential maritime terrorist threats. The Coast Guard accomplished this in part by diverting resources from other missions. Increased requirements for homeland-security operations after September 11 appear to have added to a pre-existing tension between Coast Guard mission responsibilities and available resources. The Coast Gua… more
Date: February 19, 2002
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Homeland Security: Coast Guard Operations - Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report discusses the Coast Guard's new homeland-security operations in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, which raise potential issues for Congress regarding the adequacy of Coast Guard assets and funding, the Coast Guard’s legal authorities, the Coast Guard’s location within the executive branch, and coordination between the Coast Guard and other agencies.
Date: February 19, 2002
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Homeland Security: Coast Guard Operations - Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report discusses the Coast Guard's new homeland-security operations in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, which raise potential issues for Congress regarding the adequacy of Coast Guard assets and funding, the Coast Guard’s legal authorities, the Coast Guard’s location within the executive branch, and coordination between the Coast Guard and other agencies.
Date: February 19, 2002
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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