New Research: How the CIA found Soviet missiles in Cuba
While the U-2 spy plane is largely credited for identifying the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba in the early 1960s, setting off a Cold War escalation with nearly-apololyptic results, new research has pieced together how CIA-trained Cubans ran a highly-successful intelligence network that drove the discovery of the missiles.
Hack, Jam, Sense & Shoot: Army Creates 1st Multi-Domain Unit
The U.S. Army has launched its first unit combining long-range targeting, hacking, jamming, and space operations under a single battalion command, bringing together intelligence, information, cyber, electronic warfare, and space (I2CEWS). This first detachment has been designed for counter-China operations, while a second will focus on Europe for counter-Russian operations.
Budget Office: U.S. to spend projected $494 billion on nuclear weapons programs over next 10 years
The estimate for total U.S. spending on nuclear arsenal modernization and maintenance has been increased to $494 billion over the next 10 years, increasing 23% over the 2017 estimate. This rise will likely become a point of significant debate in the next year in the relevant congressional committees, and could
The Pentagon flew more drones for domestic missions in 2018 than the last 7 years combined
The U.S. military has supported domestic missions with drones several times in the past decades, but 2018 marked a highpoint of military drone usage domestically, surpassing the past seven years combined and suggesting a continued support relationship in 2019 and beyond. Of the 2018 missions, four supported forrest firefighting efforts
Study: ISIS Decline Sees Global Terror Attacks Down 33 Percent in 2018
The Global Attack Index released annually by Jane’s Terrorism and Insurgency Center since 2009 has measured a 33% decline in terror attacks in 2018 compared to 2017. This decline in numbers can be misleading, however, as it is mostly due to the destruction of ISIS strongholds across Syria and Iraq.
French Defence Sec: ‘Cyber-war has begun’ and France will hack first
Shifting the general European tone on the subject from secretive to open, the French Defense Secretary recently declared in a speech that “cyber war has begun” and that the country has added cyber capabilities to its arsenal that it is prepared to use proactively. The speech invites close collaboration between
Amazon Shareholders Move to Stop Selling Facial Recognition Tech to Government Agencies
A bloc of five Amazon shareholders groups have submitted a resolution to “prohibit sales of facial recognition technology to government agencies unless the Board concludes, after an evaluation using independence evidence, that the technology does not cause or contribute to actual or potential violations of civil and human rights.” The
Pentagon Releases 2019 Missile Defense Review
“Military superiority is not a birthright granted to us,” the Pentagon’s freshly-released Missile Defense Review reads in the preface. “It is the product of diligence, creativity, and sustained investment.” Most recently, this creativity and sustained investment may mean installing space-based sensors to monitor and help destroy incoming missiles. The U.S.
‘Tens of Thousands’ of Government Contractors Laid Off Due to Shutdown
While the country’s unemployment rates are at a low, the next report could reflect some side effects of the shutdown: namely “tens of thousands” of layoffs by contractors who are losing around $1.5 billion per week. With 9,000 federal employees furloughed, employment is but one of the economic areas seeing
Work on Security Clearance Backlog Continues Through Shutdown
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) bureau responsible for issuing security clearances has not been impacted by the government shutdown as they work to reduce the major backlog of background investigations numbering 600,000 at the end of 2018, down from a high of 725,000 in April. Officials have stated that