Det danske Fredsakademi
Kronologi over fredssagen og international politik 3. August 2005 / Timeline August 3, 2005
Version 3.52. August 2005, 4. August 2005
08/03/2005
Archive, Secrecy Experts, Urge Court to Scrutinize Government
Secrecy Claims
Washington D.C. August 3, 2005 - The National Security Archive,
along with other secrecy experts, today filed a "friend of the
court" brief in a lawsuit challenging the FBI's authority to issue
national security letters (NSLs) without any judicial oversight and
under a blanket gag order that prohibits the recipient from
speaking with anyone about the NSL. The amicus curiae brief was
filed with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second
Circuit, which is reviewing a lower court decision that held that
the NSL authority violated the First and Fourth Amendments to the
U.S. Constitution.
The brief argues that secrecy does not always serve the goal of
protecting national security, as the numerous investigations into
the September 11 attacks on the United States all concluded. Noting
that there has been an upsurge in secrecy over the last four years
- and that military and intelligence officials ranging from
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to now-Director of the CIA
Porter Goss all admit that a significant amount of the secrecy is
unnecessary - the brief argues that the judiciary must provide a
meaningful review of government claims for secrecy.
In the case of the NSL authority, the brief points out the
particular dangers associated with a permanent and categorical ban
on speech by recipients of NSLs and demonstrates the terrible
impact that the rule has on government accountability.
In addition to the Archive, the brief was filed on behalf of the
Project on Government Secrecy of the Federation of American
Scientists, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, and the
National Whistleblower Coalition. More information about the
lawsuit is available at www.aclu.org.
08/03/2005
NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department
of Defense
National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of August 3, 2005
This week, the Army, Air Force and Navy announced an increase in
the number of reservists on active duty in support of the partial
mobilization, while the Marine Corps number decreased and the Coast
Guard number remained the same. The net collective result is 1,680
more reservists mobilized than last week.
At any given time, services may mobilize some units and individuals
while demobilizing others, making it possible for these figures to
either increase or decrease. Total number currently on active duty
in support of the partial mobilization for the Army National Guard
and Army Reserve is 115,880; Navy Reserve, 3,960; Air National
Guard and Air Force Reserve, 9,899; Marine Corps Reserve, 8,924;
and the Coast Guard Reserve, 555. This brings the total National
Guard and Reserve personnel, who have been mobilized, to 139,218,
including both units and individual augmentees.
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