Questions tagged [national-security]
Questions relating to a government's measures to maintain and insure security and freedom from harm from other countries, for its citizens, its territories, and its sphere of influence. For questions about safety or security internal to a country, use [public-safety].
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Who limits what sensitive/secret information is shared with the US House Armed Services Committee? Can they get whatever they want for "oversight"?
Background; elected officials considered "vetted" by election and receive no formal background check before receiving sensitive/secret information
Politico's January 5, 2023 Speaker debacle ...
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What did Zelensky mean when he says Ukraine should have security guarantee?
It can be heard that Zelensky demands a security guarantee from a 3rd country (like Germany, Turkey, France, Poland). So what does it mean. Suppose Poland agrees. Then does it mean that the next time ...
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Why does the US treat the problems of Russia and Ukraine as its own?
In this question, I do not raise questions about the conflicts themselves. The question is different - how is the fact that the United States recognizes these problems as its own justified from a ...
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How would Ukraine joining NATO affect Russian security?
The current Russian troop buildup close to Ukraine and the exercise in Belarus are partially justified by Russian security interests which, in particular, mean that Russia very much opposes NATO ...
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What are the standard safeguards against arbitrary accusations of terrorism within democratic countries?
In a democratic country, core principles such as free speech are protected against arbitrary retaliation by the government in power (at least in theory).
On the other hand, security forces evaluate ...
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Can the FBI or the CIA keep things secret from the President?
Can the FBI or the CIA keep things secret from the President? Or does the FBI and the CIA always have to reveal the whole extent of the truth whenever the President is informed of something? Can they ...
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What are some mechanisms or laws that encourage the FBI and CIA to share intelligence in the name of national security?
Wedge: The Secret War Between the FBI and CIA, a nonfiction book by
American historian and policy analyst Mark Riebling, explores the
conflict between U.S. domestic law enforcement and foreign
...
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Was the timing of the armed response to defend the Capitol within the requirements specified in security protocols?
The Department of Defense posted a detailed planning & execution timeline¹ for the National Guard’s involvement in the deadly siege of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
What struck me most was ...
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Was the President's authorization to arrest and prosecute those who destroy Federal property still active on January 6th?
In summer 2020, president Trump has authorized the Federal Government to enforce the law against those who vandalize or destroy monuments or other Federal
property:
I have authorized the Federal ...
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How can a state governor send their National Guard units into other administrative districts?
As part of yesterday's insurrection response, VA Governor Northam sent his National Guard into D.C.:
Virginia is sending reinforcements to help law enforcement in Washington, D.C.
Gov. Ralph Northam ...
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Which, if any, EU28 countries have expressed opposition to the creation of a European Security Council?
There has been some talk about setting up a European Security Council to make collective foreign policy decision more swiftly. For example, an article on the German Institute for International and ...
JJJ♦
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Is the US President prohibited from receiving clothing as a gift? Why or why not?
This article from The Balance, while describing the personal benefits and responsibilities of the office of the presidency, says this about gifts of clothing:
Presidents and their spouses cannot ...
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Can I (a random person in the world) be prosecuted under the new Hong Kong security law?
According to Amnesty International, the new Hong Kong security law "applies to everyone on the planet". I quote:
The wording of the Hong Kong national security law asserts jurisdiction over ...
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What considerations are necessary before POTUS can invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act?
I read here that President Trump is planning on invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807 and that the last time it was used was during the LA riots.
Two questions rose to me from reading the article. ...
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Why isn't the Republic of Ireland a member of the Five Eyes Security Alliance?
I observe that Rep. Ireland is a notable absentee from the group, despite being one of our 'Anglo Mates', and sharing the same views regarding Global security. EU membership aside, why is this?
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Do the interviews with neighbours, coworkers etc. conducted for a US background check (like SSBI) pose a kind of intelligence risk?
As Wikipedia writes, to obtain a Top Secret clearance in the US an extensive background investigation (SSBI) must be conducted.
In the course of it, officials interview people like direct supervisor(...
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Which right has priority in a shut down in states of emergency: the emergency law or the asylum law (international refugee law)?
Refugee law is the branch of international law which deals with the rights and duties States have vis-a-vis refugees.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugee_law
Refugees are protected by the refugee ...
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Were there no leaked phone calls of US presidents before Trump's presidency?
Rep. Nunes said in a committee hearing that to his knowledge the details/transcripts of Trump's phone calls with the Australian PM and the Mexican President were the first leaks of this kind. Acting ...
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Did Obama notify Congress (the Intelligence committees in particular) that the bin Laden raid was ongoing?
Trump said recently that he did not notify Congress that the raid on ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was ongoing because Trump feared a leak from Congress. So he only notified Congress after the US ...
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Can a US President ban a Congressman from using SCIFs?
A SCIF is a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, and is mandated for use in some situations when reviewing classified and sensitive materials. If a President has cause, e.g. knows a ...
user9790
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Are there precedents in other countries for Australia's mass newspaper protest today?
Many newspapers in Australia self-censored their front pages today to protest against what they see as government censorship or at least intimidation. According to the BBC:
The protest is aimed at ...
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Is Treason the right term to describe making a secret deal with a foreign government for personal gains?
As a casual German observer following the news, I wonder about the language used in the news.
I gather that the current situation is that a whistle-blower from an important intelligence position has ...
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Do countries use a shared intelligence database at borders?
Is there an internationally-shared police/intelligence database that countries use to permit/deny entry of foreign nationals?
For example, might France, the UK or the US pool wanted lists incase ...
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If there's something that implicates the president why is there then a national security issue? (John Dowd)
Here is a transcription of the recently popularized voice mail from John Dowd to Rob Kelner, the attorney of Michael Flynn, from CNN's Transcript released of Flynn voicemail from Trump lawyer showing ...
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Are Americans allowed to use deadly force against illegal immigrants? [closed]
If Trump officially declares a national state of emergency, stating that people coming across the border illegally is a threat to our national security, are Americans allowed to use deadly force ...
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What is the point of the US presidential code name?
What is the point of the US president having a code name? I feel as if presidential (and other family/cabinet memebers) are widely reported and known. Is it that once they are accurately reported ...
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Is the extended security framework a useful model for modern security phenomena?
First, I am referring to working paper from Christopher Daase (2010).
Daase, Christopher (2010): Der erweiterte Sicherheitsbegriff. Working
Paper 1. Sicherheitskultur im Wandel
His paper ...
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FISA warrants: why are the dates still redacted?
In July, the DoJ released 412 pages of heavily redacted documents related to the FISA court's approval of surveillance of Carter Page, a U.S. citizen. The redactions, have become controversial.
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How is the US' "Presidential Alert" system safeguarded against inappropriate or unauthorized use?
CNN's Feds send first emergency message test to cell phones describes the system and includes simple explanations like:
It's called the "presidential alert," but the President doesn't actually ...
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How does transportation and security of high ranking officials differ in the EU and US? [closed]
Do high ranking members of parliament and other state institutions travel in armoured vehicles and have armed personal security in the EU and UK? If so, which bodies protect them?
How does this ...
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How many high level security clearances have been revoked?
How many high level individuals have had their security clearances revoked rather than simply letting them lapse, since the start of the security clearance system?
By high level, I'm interested in ...
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Can the government take the President's personal phone?
I've been reading reports that Donald Trump is stepping up the use of his personal phone which is insecure on a few different levels (e.g prone to software exploits due to out of date software). This ...
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Do Persian Gulf countries buy weapons only to influence the seller?
Saudi Arabia was the top buyer of defense products in the world until it was replaced by India in 2017. Other gulf countries also buy a lot of defense products.
To me, recent Saudi-Russia defense ...
user17569
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Did the Obama Administration have an official National Security Strategy?
This Fox News opinion piece is largely centered around the following quote:
"it had been over a decade since we’ve had an official National Security Strategy to guide policy and spending priorities....
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How does Trump's new national security plan differ from Obama's?
President Trump just recently released a new national security plan (full report). How does it differ from Obama's?
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Why isn't Pakistan able to prevent frequent bombings?
Why has it become so hard for them to prevent regular and frequent bombings on civilians by domestic and foreign terrorists given that they allegedly have one of the best intelligence agencies in the ...
user4514
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What is the role of the White House Chief Strategist in the US National Security Council?
I'm trying to understand the ramifications of the recent reorganization of the U.S. National Security Council. I've seen some posts saying that this means Steve Bannon now has power to suggest who is ...
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How does the US government decide which candidates are "worthy" to receive a security briefing?
So while the US is by far primarily comprised of two main political parties, those parties are private organizations.
That being said, soon both candidates will be officially briefed by the US ...
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Is it legal for one country to be under military protection of another?
According to UN, is it legal for a country to be under military protection of other country?
Or vice versa, is it illegal to give military protection to other countries?
Why I think it could be ...
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