July 2005 Intelligence News

Military Lawyers Strongly Objected to Interrogation Policy VOA 29 Jul 2005 -- Newly released U.S. government documents show the nation's top military lawyers argued strenuously against controversial interrogation methods used at U.S detention facilities in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and in Iraq
Predator operators see whole picture AFPN 29 Jul 2005 -- Each MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle mission flown in the Iraqi sky begins and ends here.
U.S. Official Renews Concerns About Syrian Involvement in Lebanon VOA 29 Jul 2005 -- A U.S. official has told Congress the United States still has very serious concerns about ongoing Syrian involvement in Lebanon, despite the withdrawal earlier this year of Syrian regular army troops
Leaks of Classified Data Called Damaging and Widespread Washington File 29 Jul 2005 -- The practice of leaking information to the media has become "almost second nature" in the U.S. capital, and when it is classified, severe damage to U.S. intelligence capabilities can occur, a Michigan congressman says.
Officials Report to Congress on Funding for Iraqi Insurgents Washington File 28 Jul 2005 -- A senior U.S. intelligence officer says that some terrorist and insurgent groups in Iraq have enough financing to continue "indefinitely" their current level of anti-Coalition violence.
Georgia: Tbilisi Says Russian Officers Behind Gori Bombing RFE/RL 26 Jul 2005 -- Georgian officials on 25 July blamed Russian intelligence operatives for a recent series of attacks in the South Caucasus country. Those attacks include a fatal car bombing in Gori, the main city of the Shida Kartli region, near the separatist region of South Ossetia.
Georgian Minister Says Russian Officer Organized Saboteurs RFE/RL 25 Jul 2005 -- Speaking to journalists in Gori earlier today, Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili accused a Russian intelligence army officer of organizing a group of saboteurs allegedly responsible for a car-bombing attack that left three Georgian police officers dead.
COORDINATION NEEDED TO CRACK DOWN ON CHINESE SPIES: OFFICIAL CNA 23 Jul 2005 -- Chinese criminals and spies entering Taiwan remain a problem that must be better addressed by coordinating all elements of law enforcement, a spokesman for the State Public Prosecutor General's Office under the Supreme Court said Friday.
DoD Names New NRO Director 22 Jul 2005 -- The secretary of defense announced today the decision to appoint Donald M. Kerr as director of the National Reconnaissance Office, with the concurrence of the director of National Intelligence.
Belarus Accuses Polish NGO Of Spying RFE/RL 22 Jul 2005 -- Belarus has accused a Polish-based NGO of spying and banned it from operating in the country
Flying force-multiplier provides eyes forward AFPN 15 Jul 2005 -- A small, lightweight airborne surveillance system is paying big dividends in helping the 379th Security Forces Squadron accomplish its mission while safeguarding the Air Force’s most valuable asset -- Airmen.
Army UAV Center of Excellence to be at Rucker Army News 15 Jul 2005 -- The U.S. Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, Ala., has been designated as the new Army Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Center of Excellence.
Key Bush Adviser Central Figure In Leak Case VOA 15 Jul 2005 -- One of President Bush's most trusted advisers, Karl Rove, is now enmeshed in a legal and political controversy over the leaking of a CIA operative's name two years ago.
Democrats, Republicans in U.S. Congress Battle Over CIA Leak Case VOA 14 Jul 2005 -- The controversy over the leak of the identity of a covert CIA officer in 2003, involving questions about the actions a close adviser to President Bush, shot back into the spotlight on Capitol Hill Thursday. Democrats in Congress intensified calls for President Bush to fire Karl Rove, while Republicans accused Democrats of seeking to use the issue for political gain.
Democrats Maintain Pressure on Bush Advisor VOA 14 Jul 2005 -- Democrats in Congress continue to step up pressure on President Bush regarding his close political adviser, Karl Rove. House Democrats have introduced a resolution aimed at obtaining documents and other information from the White House about the leak of a covert CIA officer's name two-years ago, which is the subject of a criminal investigation.
A2TECH Demos New Generation UAV/UCAV Ground Control Station A2Tech News Release 13 Jul 2005 -- Advanced Aviation Technology recently conducted the first flight of a small electric driven technology demonstrator that will demonstrate a new generation of Ground Control Station (GCS) systems called "RealityVISION
Bush Adviser under Fire in Leak Probe VOA 12 Jul 2005 -- Congressional Democrats are calling on President Bush to fire one of his most trusted political advisers in connection with the leak of a covert CIA officer's name two years ago. After initially defending adviser Karl Rove, White House officials are now refusing to comment, citing an ongoing criminal investigation into the case.
Joint UAV Center of Excellence at Creech AFPN 11 Jul 2005 -- The newly created Joint Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Center of Excellence will stand up in October at Creech Air Force Base, Nev.
Joint Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Team, Center of Excellence Announced 08 Jul 2005 -- The Department of Defense announces today the establishment of two organizations to coordinate the development and use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities.
EU To Improve Intelligence-Sharing Efforts RFE/RL 08 Jul 2005 -- The EU Commission says it will push for the creation of an EU-wide intelligence network after the 7 July series of bomb attacks in London.
Australia Grants Asylum To Chinese Diplomat RFE/RL 08 Jul 2005 -- Australia has granted asylum to a former Chinese diplomat who has defected.
Australia Grants Protection Visa to Chinese Diplomat VOA 08 Jul 2005 -- Australia has granted a permanent "protection visa" to a former Chinese diplomat who sought asylum with a claim that China has a vast network of spies in Australia.
U.S.: Reporter Jailed Over CIA Leak Case RFE/RL 07 Jul 2005 -- A judge in the United States has sent a reporter from "The New York Times" to jail for refusing to reveal the name of a confidential government source. Judith Miller had refused to reveal who gave her the name of a CIA agent and so faces several months in jail. The case goes to the heart of the U.S. administration's justification for war -- and rights groups say it's a test of press freedom.
Report: Loss of control caused Predator crash AFPN 06 Jul 2005 -- The loss of control of an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle caused it to run out of fuel and crash Jan. 14 at a forward-deployed location in Southwest Asia, Air Force officials said July 6.
Over 170 Cases of U.S. Aerial Espionage Committed against DPRK in June KCNA 02 Jul 2005 -- The U.S. imperialists have become more desperate in their aerial espionage against the DPRK