Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 28/09/2026They are the granddaughters of Dr Anna Braude-Heller, the director of the Children's Hospital in the Warsaw Ghetto who was murdered by German forces in May 1943 alongside her sister, my grandmother. 100
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 28/09/2026As controversy over memorial "stumbling stones" was brewing in Germany, I was privileged to participate in the unveiling of two new Stolpersteine in honor of my grandmother and my aunt, thanks to the Warsaw Ghetto Museum www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP-s...youtube.comUnveiling of Stolpersteine for Róża and Steffi AftergutYouTube video by MASZA MAKAROWA 130
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 18/08/2025@banditelli.org @joshuaeaton.bsky.social I don't know if PPAs are readily available but I doubt it (though it would be worth trying!). Acc to this 2016 CRS report, at least six nuclear power plants were believed to have PPAs but they "were not made available to CRS" www.congress.gov/crs-product/...congress.gov 340
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 22/03/2025"Corruption is... enabled by a political system with... a lack of independent checks on public officials," says a new report from the Director of National Intelligence. irp.fas.org/eprint/china... 262
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 12/02/2025Alan Kuperman, Paul Leventhal's deputy at the Nuclear Control Institute, may also be able to fill in some gaps regarding the Tritium study. He is now here: lbj.utexas.edu/kuperman-ala...lbj.utexas.eduAlan J. Kuperman 120
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 12/02/2025As of 1984, the USDOE DASI was Charles V. Boykin. www.cia.gov/readingroom/...cia.gov 120
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 27/01/2025And a 2024 directive on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the intelligence community has also gone missing from the ODNI website. irp.fas.org/dni/icd/icd-... 1114
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 27/01/2025A 2023 intelligence community directive on Gender Identity (ICD 125) has just been *withdrawn* from the DNI website. irp.fas.org/dni/icd/icd-... 194
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 27/01/2025Artificial intelligence could indirectly pose a challenge to the security of classified information, according to another new IC directive, since "AI can potentially be changed or influenced by data that it has been exposed to, including classified data." irp.fas.org/dni/icd/icd-... 173
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 27/01/2025DNI Haines issued another new directive that would promote Intelligence Community work with "non-state entities" including US and foreign NGOs and academic institutions. "These partners are essential to maintaining a US advantage in the context of strategic competition." irp.fas.org/dni/icd/icd-... 052
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 27/01/2025A new directive on "Intelligence Diplomacy" -- which involves sharing intelligence with foreign governments in order to advance U.S. foreign policy objectives -- was one of several Intelligence Community Directives issued by outgoing DNI Avril Haines earlier this month. irp.fas.org/dni/icd/icd-... 075
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 08/01/2025Richard Garwin recalled his encounters with Edward Teller in this 2009 reminiscence rlg.fas.org/judging-tell... 061
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 03/01/2025In a new memoir "Frank N. von Hippel shares his remarkable journey as a key figure in the history of nuclear weapons and nuclear energy, illuminating the far-reaching consequences of nuclear accidents and the devastating impact of 'limited' nuclear war." www.rienner.com/title/Ending...rienner.comLynne Rienner Publishers | Ending the Nuclear Arms Race A Physicist s QuestLynne Rienner Publishers, celebrating 35 years of independent publishing, is known for its cutting-edge, high quality scholarly and academic books and journals in politics, social sciences, and the hu... 060
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 02/01/2025CRS: "Contrary to a number of news reports, U.S. policy does not prohibit the development or employment of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems." sgp.fas.org/crs/natsec/I... 271
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 31/12/2024Whistleblower protections for federal government employees in America date back as early as the Revolutionary War. The scope of those protections has expanded over time but still has exceptions and limitations. sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R48... 061
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 29/12/2024The late Anne Cahn wrote important critiques of U.S. intelligence -- notably the Team B exercise -- and arms control policy. www.legacy.com/us/obituarie...legacy.comAnne Cahn Obituary (2024) - Washington, DC - The Washington PostView Anne Hessing Cahn's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook. 084
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 23/12/2024The Pentagon has updated its "insider threat" detection policy to encompass, e.g., "reporting that indicates an individual has an affiliation with foreign entities, including organizations, persons, or agents" irp.fas.org/doddir/dod/i... 051
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 21/12/2024Raymond Garthoff, RIP www.legacy.com/us/obituarie...legacy.comRaymond Garthoff Obituary (2024) - Washington, DC - The Washington PostView Raymond Garthoff's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook. 051
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 17/12/2024"The President, as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, is the sole authority for the employment of U.S. nuclear weapons." irp.fas.org/doddir/dod/i... 050
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 10/12/2024CRS notes today that "34 countries currently have a female chief of state and/or head of government who won an election or was selected by elected bodies" sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R45... 030
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 09/12/2024A new US Intelligence Community policy aims "to elevate the analysis of Publicly Available Information, Commercially Available Information, and Open Source Intelligence" irp.fas.org/dni/icd/ics-... 020
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 04/12/2024A new CRS overview of US Space Command notes that in January 2024, following complaints of over-classification of information, DoD "removed some of the classification barriers" affecting acquisition and information sharing. Further changes are under review. sgp.fas.org/crs/natsec/I... 030
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 04/12/2024New US Army poster promotes awareness of Chinese military gear, insignia, weapons irp.fas.org/doddir/army/... 020
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 03/12/2024Access to classified information has long been predicated by law or policy on security clearances including FBI background investigations. It is uncertain how much of this security clearance apparatus could be jettisoned by a President. A new overview by CRS: sgp.fas.org/crs/secrecy/... 010
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 03/12/2024CRS: "The PRC government responds aggressively to signs of autonomous social organization, independent political activity, and social unrest. Authorities severely restrict unsanctioned collective activity among religious groups, ethnic minorities, and industrial workers" sgp.fas.org/crs/row/R482... 010
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 26/11/2024The highest monthly number of tornadoes on record (>550 of them) occurred in May 2024. The reasons for the surge are uncertain (better detection and reporting? climate change?). An update from CRS. sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/IF1... 000
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 26/11/2024US arms sales abroad are restricted by human rights considerations. At least in theory. CRS provides a newly updated overview. sgp.fas.org/crs/weapons/... 000
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 19/11/2024Current and former Dept of Defense employees must submit even *unclassified* material for prepublication review by DoD if it relates to national security, according to a newly formalized DoD policy. But "Lack of response does not constitute a public release clearance." irp.fas.org/doddir/dod/d... 001
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 18/11/2024Russian use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine would have negative consequences for the global economy, the National Intelligence Council said in an oddly tone deaf 2022 assessment declassified in September and published last week irp.fas.org/nic/nuclear-... 154
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 16/11/2024The new IC directive replaces a 2009 directive on "equal employment opportunity and diversity" irp.fas.org/dni/icd/icd-... 021
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 16/11/2024A newly revised Intelligence Community Directive elevates "diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility" to "mission-essential" status. This does not seem to be the view of the incoming crew. irp.fas.org/dni/icd/icd-... 132
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 15/11/2024U.S. nuclear weapons guidance "requires DoD to conduct both deliberate and adaptive nuclear planning" for use of nuclear weapons. A new DoD report to Congress elaborates. man.fas.org/eprint/emplo... 010
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 13/11/2024The Pentagon today published updated guidance on Inspector General access to DoD records and information. With some exceptions, IG personnel "must have timely access to all records and information relating to DoD programs and operations... regardless of classification" irp.fas.org/doddir/dod/i... 020
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 12/11/2024The techniques and technologies of atmospheric carbon dioxide removal -- including risks, benefits and uncertainties -- are surveyed in a new CRS report sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R48... 030
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 11/11/2024CRS: 25% of the deaths of US active-duty military personnel between 2006 and 2021 were self-inflicted bit.ly/3LiBbvt 010
Steven Aftergood @saftergood.bsky.social · 11/11/2024The 1954 Atomic Energy Commission decision to revoke J. Robert Oppenheimer's security clearance was vacated in December 2022 by Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, who noted "numerous irregularities" in the case bit.ly/3HIwtHu 010
