Advanced search    Help

Clear all search criteria

Only 2/3! You are seeing results from the Public Collection, not the complete Full Collection. Sign in to search everything (see eligibility).

• Test and Evaluation of MeshDynamics 802.11: Multi-Radio Mesh Modules in Support of Coalition Riverine Operations

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "The Coalition Operating Area Surveillance and Targeting System (COASTS) program is a joint project between the Naval Postgraduate School and the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF). The program focuses its research on command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) uses for commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS), state-of-the-art, rapidly scaleable airborne and ground communications equipment, including various wireless network technologies. This research is being conducted in partnership with the RTAF to develop a network and associated devices and applications that potentially may help suppress drug trafficking in the northern Thailand border regions. Commensurately, the U.S. Navy is taking the Global War on Terror (GWOT) lead in coalition Maritime Security Operations and riverine warfare operations. With formation of the new Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC), and its new Riverine Warfare Group, the Navy's role takes effect starting in January 2007, and could benefit from this research. This thesis focuses on testing and evaluating the overall performance of the MeshDynamics Multiple-Radio Mesh Modules, operating in the 802.11 wireless frequency spectrum. These modules are key building blocks of meshed networks that provide coverage over an area where riverine and coastal operations are being conducted. The network provides an information source and communications backbone for maritime, ground, and air assets."

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)

  Russo, Joseph Anthony

  2006-06
• Sea Piracy in Southeast Asia: Implications for Countering Maritime Terrorism in the United States

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "Sea piracy has infested the seven seas throughout history. In modern times, the United States has paid little attention to piracy because the nation's isolated vastness has protected the shipping industry from maritime crime. But the events of 9/11 have changed the lens through which America views security. This thesis investigates modern day piracy and links between piracy and terrorism in order to determine implications for U.S. maritime security strategy. Specifically, the maritime environment in Southeast Asia and associated maritime security policies are researched because a sizable proportion of the world's sea piracy occurs in that region. U.S. maritime security policy is also evaluated."

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)

  Geragotelis, John M.

  2006-06
• Test and Evaluation of a Prototyped Sensor-Camera Network for Persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance in Support of Tactical Coalition Networking Environments

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "This thesis investigated the feasibility of deploying an integrated sensor-camera network in military and law enforcement applications. The system was built using entirely commercial-off-the-shelf technologies. The prototype used the unattended ground sensors combined with digital video surveillance cameras to provide accurate real-time situational awareness, persistent intelligence and remote security. A robust testing and evaluation plan was created to measure the system's performance based on specific metrics. The tests focused primarily on the capabilities of the sensor aspect of the network. Tests were conducted to determine the maximum detection range, probabilities of detection, maximum communications range, and battery life. Mathematical models were created to assist network planners. Additionally, the prototyped system was tested through field exercises as part of the Naval Postgraduate School's Coalition Operating Area Surveillance and Targeting System field demonstrations in California and northern Thailand. Although the sensing capabilities exceeded the minimum metrics, the system was not suitable for use in military applications. However, the prototyped network would work well in less demanding law enforcement environments. Additionally, the feasibility and the need to develop an integrated sensor-camera network were demonstrated."

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)

  Chesnut, Michael R.

  2006-06
• Unconventional Counter-Insurgency in Afghanistan

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "Immediately following the attacks of September 11, 2001, a small number of U.S. Army Special Forces (USSF) invaded the Al Qaeda safe haven of Afghanistan. USSF A-teams, operating with almost total independence, conducted highly successful Unconventional Warfare 'through, with, and by' the indigenous Afghan militias of the Northern Alliance. The USSF and their indigenous Afghan armies rapidly deposed the Taliban regime and denied the Al Qaeda terrorists their training and support areas within Afghanistan. The momentum of the initial success achieved by USSF during 2001-2002, however, has been dramatically overshadowed by the inability of follow-on U.S. forces to establish long-term stability in the post-Taliban Afghanistan. Since 2002, the conventional U.S./Coalition forces, which replaced Army USSF as the main U.S. counterinsurgency (COIN) forces, have thus far failed to defeat the re-emerging Taliban/Al Qaeda threat. In fact, 2005 has been the most violent year-to-date for U.S./Coalition forces serving in Afghanistan with 239 U.S. casualties, and President Hamid Karzai's central Afghan government exhibiting little control outside its major cities. This trend continues in 2006. In this thesis we question the current U.S./Coalition campaign plan, which places emphasis on conventional military forces, not USSF, as the main effort COIN force in Operation Enduring Freedom. We propose an alternative Unconventional COIN model which focuses on population control instead of 'clear and sweep operations', Afghan constabulary-style forces instead of conventional Afghan National Army troops, the importance of 'grassroots' intelligence collection at the village level, and the employment of USSF advisors instead of conventional U.S. infantry troops."

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)

  Dyke, John R.; Crisafulli, John R.

  2006-06
• Attorney General's Annual Report to Congress on U.S. Government Activities to Combat Trafficking in Persons Fiscal Year 2005

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "This report was mandated to provide information on the following U.S. government activities to combat trafficking in persons: The number of persons in the United States who received benefits or other services under section 107(b) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA); The number of persons who had been granted 'continued presence' in the United States under TVPA section 107(c)(3) during the previous Fiscal Year; The number of persons who applied for, had been granted, or had been denied T non-immigrant status or otherwise provided status under sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act during the previous Fiscal Year; The amount, recipient, and purpose of each grant issued by any federal agency to carry out the purposes of sections 106 and 107 of the Act, or section 134 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, during the previous Fiscal Year; The nature of training conducted pursuant to section 107(c)(4) during the previous Fiscal Year; and The activities undertaken by the Senior Policy Operating Group ('SPOG') on Trafficking in Persons to carry out its responsibilities under section 105(f) of the TVPRA during the previous Fiscal Year. This report, the third required under the TVPRA, is submitted to Congress in compliance with that directive. It details U.S. government activities to combat TIP during Fiscal Year 2005 ('FY05'), with a focus on the categories above."

  United States. Department of Justice

  2006-06
• Trafficking in Persons Report, June 2006

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "This Report is the sixth annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. It is intended to raise global awareness, to highlight the growing efforts of the international community to combat human trafficking and to encourage foreign governments to take effective actions to counter all forms of trafficking in persons. The Report has increasingly focused the efforts of a growing community of nations on sharing information and partnering in new and important ways. In assessing foreign governments' efforts, the TIP Report highlights the 'three P's'- prosecution, protection, and prevention. But a victim-centered approach to trafficking requires us equally to address the 'three R's'- rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration. The U.S. law that guides these efforts, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000, as amended, makes clear from the outset that the purpose of combating human trafficking is to ensure just and effective punishment of traffickers, to protect their victims, and to prevent trafficking from occurring."

  United States. Department of State

  2006-06
• India-U.S. Relations [Updated May 26, 2006]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "During President Bush's March visit to India- the first such trip by a U.S. President in six years- he and Prime Minister Singh issued a statement expressing mutual satisfaction with 'great progress' made in advancing the U.S.-India 'strategic partnership.' The statement, which reviewed bilateral efforts to expand ties in a number of key areas, notably announced 'successful completion of India's [nuclear facility] separation plan,' a reference to ongoing and complex negotiations related to President Bush's July 2005 vow to achieve 'full civilian nuclear energy cooperation with India.' The separation plan requires India to move 14 of its 22 reactors into permanent international oversight by the year 2014 and place all future civilian reactors under permanent safeguards. Shortly after, H.R. 4974 and S. 2429, to waive the application of certain requirements under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 with respect to India, were, at the President's request, introduced in the House and Senate. Pending legislation also includes H.Con.Res. 318, which expresses concern regarding nuclear proliferation with respect to proposed full civilian nuclear cooperation with India."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Kronstadt, K. Alan

  2006-05-26
• Combing the Underworld: Identification of South East Asian Non-State Actor Proliferation Networks, Nodes, and Chokepoints

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "The U.S. military, as with all U.S. Government agencies, shares the responsibility for countering proliferation efforts. Although numerous threats that face the United States have been identified, the systems through which the threats operate have not. Each region of the world, and indeed each country, has its own peculiarities. This paper asks the following question: How can the United States prepare to identify potential proliferation networks and chokepoints in Southeast Asia? This author proposes that a potential solution is a template that can be used as a starting point for identifying networks, chokepoints, and nodes. This template examines the interactions within a single country and expands to the regional level. It then ties in other regions to encompass the globe. The author focuses on Southeast Asia, using examples from a single country for the sample template. Southeast Asia has long been a hub for illicit commerce, smuggling, piracy, and corruption. Many of the networks for drug, money, arms, and human trafficking intersect and often overlay one another within this region. The lack of hard evidence that criminals are helping terrorists gain access to Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) may be an indicator that no one has looked closely enough at their possible linkages. As organizations and individuals attempt to market available WMD, it is likely that they will attempt to operate networks within countries and regions with pre-existing markets and routes for other illicit trade. Because of the openness of these markets and trafficking routes, Southeast Asia poses a major threat to all nations seeking to counter the proliferation of WMD to non-state actors. The United States needs a holistic template that includes networks for illicit trades in addition to terrorist networks. The proposed templates may not reveal existing networks, but they may identify the potential for network formation."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Donahoe, Adrian A.

  2006-05-25
• H. Rept. 109-476: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, 2007, Report together with Additional Views to Accompany H.R. 5441, May 22, 2006

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "The Committee on Appropriations submits the following report in explanation of the accompanying bill making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007. […] The accompanying bill contains recommendations for new budget (obligational) authority for fiscal year 2007 for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). […] The Committee recommends $32,080,000,000 in discretionary resources for the Department of Homeland Security, $1,065,353,000 above the amount proposed by the President and $1,822,300,000 above fiscal year 2006 revised enacted levels. For the second year in a row, the President has submitted a budget request for DHS that assumes the Committee will almost double the amount of aviation security fees it collects from airline passengers. This proposed fee increase funds critical areas within the Department, permitting the Secretary and President to say that the budget request for fiscal year 2007 contains an increase of $2.1 billion or six percent from the current year. But the truth is, excluding new user fees in order to make a fair comparison, the President's request is a one percent increase from the current fiscal year. As the Committee noted last year, it lacks jurisdiction to enact such a fee proposal. The Committee views this repeated attempt to artificially inflate DHS' budget as counterproductive and has reduced funding throughout the Department to make up for the gap in essential program funding created by this gimmick."

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2006-05-22
• Time to Put the Military on the Border

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "The United States has been in a war on terrorism since the events of September 11, 2001. As a result, there are ever increasing concerns over the possibility of terrorists exploiting our porous southwest border. It is well documented that the U.S. Border Patrol is undermanned, under-equipped, and under-trained to deal with the increasing numbers of illegal immigrants, escalating violent gang activity, and in the increasing incidents of questionable activity by the Mexican military. This paper will seek to discover through a discussion of the relevance of the Posse Comitatus Act, analysis of the growing threat on our southwestern border, the impact of placing the military on the border, and current counterargument, just how serious an issue the security of our southwestern border has become. The paper will conclude by advocating for a change in our border control policy that allows greater discretion to man the border with the U.S. Military to ensure the continued safety and sovereignty of our nation."

  Naval War College (U.S.). Joint Military Operations Department

  Deforge, Robert D.

  2006-05-16
• Immigration Policy on Expedited Removal of Aliens [Updated May 15, 2006]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "Expedited removal, an immigration enforcement strategy originally conceived to operate at the borders and ports of entry, is being expanded, raising a set of policy, resource, and logistical questions. Expedited removal is a provision under which an alien who lacks proper documentation or has committed fraud or willful misrepresentation of facts may be removed from the United States without any further hearings or review, unless the alien indicates a fear of persecution. Congress added expedited removal to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) in 1996, making it mandatory for arriving aliens, and giving the Attorney General the option of applying it to aliens in the interior of the country who have not been admitted or paroled into the United States and who cannot affirmatively show that they have been physically present in the United States continuously for two years. Until recently, expedited removal was only applied to aliens at ports of entry."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Wasem, Ruth Ellen; Siskin, Alison

  2006-05-15
• Central Asia: Regional Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests [Updated May 12, 2006]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States recognized the independence of all the former Central Asian republics, supported their admission into Western organizations, and elicited Turkish support to counter Iranian influence in the region. Congress was at the forefront in urging the formation of coherent U.S. policies for aiding these and other Eurasian states of the former Soviet Union. Soon after the terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001, all the Central Asian states offered overflight and other support to coalition anti-terrorist efforts in Afghanistan. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan hosted coalition troops and provided access to airbases. In 2003, Uzbekistan endorsed coalition military action in Iraq and Kazakhstan provided about two dozen troops for rebuilding. After September 11, 2001, U.S. policy emphasized bolstering the security of the Central Asian states to help them combat terrorism, proliferation, and arms trafficking. Other strategic interests include internal reforms (democratization, free markets, and human rights) and energy development. Administration policy also aims to integrate these states into the international community so that they follow responsible security and other policies, and to discourage the growth of xenophobic, fundamentalist, and anti-Western orientations that threaten peace and stability."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Nichol, James P.

  2006-05-12
• Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends [Updated May 10, 2006]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "The Bush Administration has made bilateral and regional free-trade agreements (FTAs) more important elements of U.S. trade policy, a strategy known as 'competitive liberalization.' This strategy, it argues, will push forward trade liberalization simultaneously on bilateral, regional and multilateral fronts. It is meant to spur trade negotiations by liberalizing trade with countries willing to join FTAs, and to pressure other countries to negotiate multilaterally. Critics contend, however, that the accent on regional and bilateral negotiations undermines the multilateral forum and increases the risk of trade diversion away from competitive countries not in the trade bloc. The controversial CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement) -- an agreement signed with the five countries of the Central American Common Market (CACM) and the Dominican Republic -- was passed by the House on July 28, 2005, by a vote of 217- 215. Later in the day, the Senate approved the House version of the legislation to implement CAFTA, and President Bush signed it on August 2 (P.L. 109-53). In December 2005, Congress approved implementing legislation for the Bahrain FTA and President Bush signed the legislation of January 11, 2006 (P.L. 109-169). The United States is participating in several other regional and bilateral trade negotiations. Agreements were concluded and became effective during the 108th Congress with Australia, Chile, and Singapore. Also during the 108th Congress, an agreement with Morocco was approved, but it did not take effect until January 1, 2006. Negotiations are underway with Panama, Thailand, three Andean nations (Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador), and the United Arab Emirates. Negotiations have recently concluded with Peru, Colombia, and Oman. USTR announced the launch of FTA negotiations with South Korea on February 3, 2006, and with Malaysia on March 8. Several other trade initiatives are under discussion, including a U.S.-Middle East FTA and an FTA with countries in southeast Asia."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Fergusson, Ian F.

  2006-05-10
• Homeland Security Department: FY2007 Appropriations [May 10, 2006]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "This report describes the FY2007 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Administration requested a net appropriation of $32.0 billion in net budget authority for FY2007, of which $31.0 billion is discretionary budget authority, and $1 billion is mandatory budget authority. The President's request for appropriations includes the following break out of net budget authority for the four titles of the DHS appropriation bill: (I) Departmental Management and Operations, $1,074 million; (II) Security, Enforcement and Investigations, $22,671 million; (III) Preparedness and Response, $6,385 million; and (IV) Research and Development, Training, Assessments, and Services, $1,965 million. The requested net appropriation for major components of the department includes the following: $6,574 million for Customs and Border Protection (CBP); $3,928 million for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); $2,323 million for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA); $8,181 million for the U.S. Coast Guard; $1,265 million for the Secret Service; $3,420 million for the Preparedness Directorate; $2,964 million for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); $182 million for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); and $1,002 million for the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Lake, Jennifer E.; Nunez-Neto, Blas

  2006-05-10
• Pakistan-U.S. Relations [Updated May 9, 2006]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "A stable, democratic, economically thriving Pakistan is considered vital to U.S. interests in Asia. Key U.S. concerns regarding Pakistan include regional terrorism; Pakistan- Afghanistan relations; weapons proliferation; the ongoing Kashmir problem and Pakistan- India tensions; human rights protection; and economic development. A U.S.-Pakistan relationship marked by periods of both cooperation and discord was transformed by the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and the ensuing enlistment of Pakistan as a pivotal ally in U.S.-led counterterrorism efforts. Top U.S. officials regularly praise Islamabad for its ongoing cooperation, although doubts exist about Islamabad's commitment to some core U.S. interests. Pakistan is identified as a base for terrorist groups and their supporters operating in Kashmir, India, and Afghanistan. Since late 2003, Pakistan's army has been conducting unprecedented counterterrorism operations in traditionally autonomous western tribal areas. A potential Pakistan-India nuclear arms race has been the focus of U.S. nonproliferation efforts in South Asia. Attention to this issue intensified following nuclear tests by both countries in May 1998. The tests triggered restrictions on U.S. aid to both countries (remaining nuclear-related sanctions on Pakistan were waived in October 2001). Pakistan and India have fought three wars since 1947. Recently, the United States has been troubled by evidence of 'onward' proliferation of Pakistani nuclear technology to third parties, including North Korea, Iran, and Libya. Such evidence became stark in February 2004."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Kronstadt, K. Alan

  2006-05-09
• United States Commission on International Religious Freedom: Annual Report 2006

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by Congress to advocate within U.S. policy a prominent place for the promotion of religious freedom and other freedoms throughout the world. Now in its seventh year of operation, the Commission is drawing the attention of the policy community to the growing strategic importance of the protection of religious freedom to U.S. national interests, raising greater public awareness as to why religious freedom is a critical component of how countries treat their own people and deal with the world around them, and working with Members of Congress in a truly bipartisan effort to promote religious freedom abroad. [...] This annual report of the Commission provides a comprehensive review of the Commission's activities--its findings, recommendations, and achievements--during the past year to promote the universal right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief. This report describes conditions for religious freedom and inter-related human rights in the countries of concern to the Commission, highlights key findings, reports on the actions the Commission has taken to raise the public's awareness of persistent religious freedom violations, refers to the Commission's efforts to keep Congress informed of religious freedom conditions throughout the world, and presents the Commission's U.S. policy recommendations to ensure that the promotion of freedom of religion or belief becomes a more integral part of U.S. foreign policy."

  United States Commission on International Religious Freedom

  2006-05
• Identification - Friend or Foe? The Strategic Uses and Future Implications of the Revolutionary New ID Technologies

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the thesis abstract: "Recent developments in identification (ID) technologies are likely to have a revolutionary impact on American society and the manner by which it wages war. The good news is that broader and more creative use of the new ID technologies could enable coalition forces to achieve dramatic victories in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) by targeting directly and effectively a critical requirement of most insurgencies: the insurgents' anonymity. The bad news is that these same technologies may be inherently inimical to the future of privacy and American civil liberties. They could transform our nation and others into surveillance societies concentrating in the hands of central governments levers of control without parallel in human history. How to reconcile American interests and values with the imperative to bend every element of national power in their defense is the central paradox of the GWOT. Are the new ID technologies useful means to the important end of securing the United States against potentially cataclysmic attacks or will they subvert the very interests and values at the core of all we seek to defend?"

  Army War College (U.S.)

  Pruett, Richard K.

  2006-04-26
• Financial War on Terrorism: Grading U.S. Strategy for Combating the Financing of Terrorism

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "Following the September 11, 2001, attacks, President Bush quickly decided that the United States' response to that strike must entail all instruments of national power. He was focused on the financial element of fighting the terrorists, targeting their monetary means of waging their terror campaign. On September 23, 2001, he signed Executive Order 13224, Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorists, initiating the Global War on Terrorism using financial instruments of power some three days before the first CIA operatives set foot in Afghanistan. Initial post-9/11 efforts centered on traditional regulatory money laundering strategy, primarily freezing or seizing terrorist funds. In July 2004, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States recommended expanding counter-finance focus to include exploiting intelligence gathered in financial investigations. While pre-9/11 and initial post-9/11 interagency efforts did not include Defense agencies in a significant way, DoD's lead role in the GWOT and ongoing Iraq counter-insurgency and reconstruction missions have sharpened the military's focus on this asymmetric target set. After reviewing traditional U.S. activities to combat terrorist financing, this thesis proposes how DoD can use threat finance exploitation to meaningfully support the overall effectiveness of U.S. strategy to disrupt terror financing and combat global terrorism."

  Joint Forces Staff College (U.S.)

  Grimes, Darryle J

  2006-04-15
• Pakistan-U.S. Relations [Updated April 13, 2006]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "A stable, democratic, economically thriving Pakistan is considered vital to U.S. interests. U.S. concerns regarding Pakistan include regional terrorism; Pakistan- Afghanistan relations; weapons proliferation; the ongoing Kashmir problem and Pakistan-India tensions; human rights protection; and economic development. A U.S.-Pakistan relationship marked by periods of both cooperation and discord was transformed by the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and the ensuing enlistment of Pakistan as a key ally in U.S.-led counterterrorism efforts. Top U.S. officials regularly praise Islamabad for its ongoing cooperation, although doubts exist about Islamabad's commitment to some core U.S. interests. Pakistan is identified as a base for terrorist groups and their supporters operating in Kashmir, India, and Afghanistan. Since late 2003, Pakistan's army has been conducting unprecedented counterterrorism operations in the country's western tribal areas."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Kronstadt, K. Alan

  2006-04-13
• President Bush Discusses Global War on Terror [April 10, 2006]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  President Bush discusses progress made in Iraq due to the adaptive efforts the military, the increasing number of trained Iraqi soldiers, the new unity government, and international cooperation. After his speech the President takes questions from the press.

  United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary

  2006-04-10
• India-U.S. Relations [Updated April 6, 2006]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "The end of the Cold War freed India-U.S. relations from the constraints of global bipolarity, but interactions continued for a decade to be affected by the burden of history, most notably the longstanding India-Pakistan rivalry and nuclear weapons proliferation in the region. Recent years, however, have witnessed a sea change in bilateral relations, with more positive interactions becoming the norm. India's swift offer of full support for U.S.-led counterterrorism operations after September 2001 was widely viewed as reflective of such change. Today, President Bush calls India a 'natural partner' of the United States and his Administration seeks to assist India's rise as a major power in the new century.:

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Kronstadt, K. Alan

  2006-04-06
• Immigration Enforcement Within the United States [April 6, 2006]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "An estimated 11 million unauthorized aliens reside in the United States, and this population is estimated to increase by 500,000 annually. Each year, approximately 1 million aliens are apprehended trying to enter the United States illegally. Although most of these aliens enter the United States for economic opportunities and family reunification, or to avoid civil strife and political unrest, some are criminals, and some may be terrorists. All are violating the United States' immigration laws. Immigration enforcement is the regulation of those who violate provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This includes violations of the INA's civil provisions (e.g., violate the conditions of their admittance), as well as U.S. citizens or aliens who violate the criminal provisions (e.g., marriage fraud or alien smuggling). Many divergent tasks are incorporated under the banner of immigration enforcement. These include removing aliens who should not be in the United States, investigating alien smuggling and trafficking, patrolling between and at ports of entry, combating document and benefit fraud, and enforcing the prohibitions against employers hiring aliens without work authorization."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Siskin, Alison; Bruno, Andorra; Nunez-Neto, Blas

  2006-04-06
• China-Southeast Asia Relations: Trends, Issues, and Implications for the United States [Updated April 4, 2006]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "China's developing relationship with Southeast Asia is undergoing a significant shift. This will likely have implications for United States' interests in the region. While the United States has been focused on Iraq and Afghanistan, China has been evolving its external engagement with its neighbors, particularly in Southeast Asia. In the 1990s, China was perceived as a threat to its Southeast Asian neighbors in part due to its conflicting territorial claims over the South China Sea and past support of communist insurgency. This perception began to change in the wake of the Asian financial crisis of 1997/98 when China resisted pressure to devalue its currency while the currencies of its neighbors were in free fall. Today, China's 'charm offensive' has downplayed territorial disputes while focusing on trade relations with Southeast Asia which are viewed by some as the catalyst for expanding political and security linkages. In November 2004, China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN includes Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) agreed to gradually remove tariffs and create the world's largest free trade area by 2010. China is also beginning to develop bilateral and multilateral security relationships with Southeast Asian states."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Vaughn, Bruce, 1963-

  2006-04-04
• El Salvador: Political, Economic, and Social Conditions and Relations with the United States [Updated April 3, 2006]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Summary: "Tony Saca, a businessman from the conservative National Republican Alliance (ARENA) party, was inaugurated as president for a five-year term in June 2004. President Saca is seeking to restart the country's stagnating economy, pass legislation in a polarized political environment, and combat gang violence. His legislative agenda should face continuing opposition from the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), which recovered seats it had lost due to defections in 2005 in the March 12, 2006, legislative elections. ARENA also increased its representation in the legislature, but lacks a majority and will continue to have to rely on support from small parties to enact President Saca's agenda. In 2005, despite its tough anti-gang legislation, El Salvador posted a murder rate of 15 people per day, the highest in the hemisphere. In February 2006, the Bush Administration extended the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) of eligible Salvadoran migrants living in the United States until September 9, 2007. On March 1, 2006, El Salvador became the first country in the region to implement the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) with the United States. This report will be updated periodically."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Seelke, Clare Ribando

  2006-04-03
• Foreign Assistance: USAID Has Begun Tsunami Reconstruction in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, but Key Projects May Exceed Initial Cost and Schedule Estimates

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "In December 2004, an earthquake off the coast of Indonesia caused a tsunami that left more than 230,000 people killed or missing and presumed dead and an estimated $10 billion in damage in 12 countries. In May 2005, Congress appropriated $908 million for relief and reconstruction. U.S. emergency relief efforts budgeted at $327 million were nearly completed in December 2005. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) plans to spend $496 million on longer-term reconstruction, focusing on Indonesia and Sri Lanka, with the remaining $85 million allocated to other U.S. agencies. GAO has been mandated to monitor USAID's reconstruction efforts. In this report, GAO describes USAID's (1) progress in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, (2) financial and technical oversight measures, and (3) implementation challenges."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2006-04
• Immigration Law Sanctions and Enforcement in Selected Foreign Countries: Brazil, Egypt, Japan, Mexico, Sweden, and Switzerland

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "Illegal immigration is a worldwide problem that affects countries of differing legal background and at various stages of economic development. This report reviews the incidence of illegal immigration and its root causes as well as the sanctions of immigration law and the level of enforcement in Brazil, Egypt, Japan, Mexico, Sweden and Switzerland. A survey of the immigration laws and practices of Brazil, Egypt, Japan, Mexico, Sweden, and Switzerland reveals that Japan and Switzerland are most effective in enforcing their immigration laws. Illegal immigration is viewed as harmful in these countries and enforcement mechanisms include the registration of aliens by the local authorities. Mexico also has a register of aliens that is maintained by the federal authorities. The fingerprinting of visa applicants is relied upon in Switzerland and Sweden, and Japan plans on introducing it. Most surveyed countries use border controls and labor inspections, albeit with varying intensity and results. Mexico and Switzerland concentrate on the avoidance and discovery of fraudulent marriages. Enforcement of immigration laws is lax in Brazil and Egypt."

  Library of Congress

  2006-04
• Central America and Mexico Gang Assessment

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "Rising crime is threatening democratic development and slowing economic growth across Central America and Mexico. Gang activity has transcended the borders of Central America, Mexico, and the United States and evolved into a transnational concern that demands a coordinated, multi-national response to effectively combat increasingly sophisticated criminal gang networks. Whereas gang activity used to be territorially confined to local neighborhoods, globalization, sophisticated communications technologies, and travel patterns have facilitated the expansion of gang activity across neighborhoods, cities, and countries. The monikers of notorious gangs such as Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and the 18th Street gang (Barrio 18) now appear in communities throughout the United States, Central America, and Mexico. Members of these international gangs move fluidly in and out of these neighboring countries. The U.S. Congress has recognized that some gangs in Latin America and the United States are international criminal organizations whose criminal activities in the Americas have damaging effects on national security by increasing domestic crime levels and facilitating drug trafficking. To combat these gangs which continue to expand their cross-border networks and illegal activities, the United States should act quickly and seize the opportunity to work with Central America and Mexico to develop a coordinated, effective response."

  United States. Agency for International Development

  2006-04
• Latin America and the Caribbean: Issues for the 109th Congress [Updated March 29, 2006]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "The Latin America and Caribbean region has made enormous strides over the past two decades in terms of political and economic development. While the region overall experienced an economic setback in 2002-2003, it rebounded in 2004, with a growth rate of 5.9%. Estimates for 2005 show a growth rate of 4.3%. Nevertheless, several nations face considerable challenges that could threaten political stability, including persistent poverty, violent guerrilla conflicts, autocratic leaders, drug trafficking, increasing crime, and the rise of radical populism in several countries. Legislative and oversight attention to Latin America and the Caribbean in the second session of the 109th Congress are focusing on continued counter-narcotics efforts in the region; trade issues, including the possible consideration of implementing legislation for one or more free trade agreements; potential challenges to democracy in Venezuela and Bolivia; ongoing efforts to bring political stability and ameliorate poverty in Haiti; efforts to foster change in Cuba; and cooperation on border security, migration, and anti-terrorism measures, especially with Mexico. Since 2000, the Andean Counterdrug Initiative (ACI) has been the primary U.S. program supporting the Colombian government's efforts to combat drug trafficking and terrorist activity perpetrated by guerrilla and paramilitary groups. In the first session, the 109th Congress approved the Administration's request to continue ACI funding in FY2006 at approximately the same levels as in previous years, and the second session will be considering the FY2007 request for ACI funding."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sullivan, Mark P.; Hornbeck, J. F. (John F.); Cook, Colleen W.

  2006-03-29
• Central Asia: Regional Developments and Implication for U.S. Interests [Updated March 29, 2006]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Summary: "After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States recognized the independence of all the former Central Asian republics, supported their admission into Western organizations, and elicited Turkish support to counter Iranian influence in the region. Congress was at the forefront in urging the formation of coherent U.S. policies for aiding these and other Eurasian states of the former Soviet Union. Soon after the terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001, all the Central Asian states offered overflight and other support to coalition anti-terrorist efforts in Afghanistan. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan hosted coalition troops and provided access to airbases. In 2003, Uzbekistan endorsed coalition military action in Iraq and Kazakhstan provided about two dozen troops for rebuilding. […] Foreign Operations Appropriations for FY2006 was signed into law on November 14, 2005 (H.R. 3057; P.L. [Public Law] 109-102). The conferees (H.Rept. 109-265) call for $25 million in Freedom Support Act aid to Kazakhstan, $25 million to Kyrgyzstan, $24 million to Tajikistan, $5 million to Turkmenistan, and $20 million to Uzbekistan. The law continues prior year language conditioning aid to the governments of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on progress in democratization and respect for human rights, and adds that the Uzbek government should permit an international investigation of the mid-2005 violence against civilians in Andijon."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Nichol, James P.

  2006-03-29
• Homeland Security: Better Management Practices Could Enhance DHS's Ability to Allocate Investigative Resources, Statement of Richard Stana, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Testimony before the Chairman, Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations, Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) mission is to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States and reduce the vulnerability of the United States to terrorism while ensuring its mandated customs, immigration, and federal protective enforcement functions are not diminished. The ICE Office of Investigations (OI) supports that mission by investigating customs and immigration violations. This testimony addresses the following key questions that were answered in GAO-06-48SU, a restricted report issued with the same title: (1) What structure and activities has OI adopted to address its mission? (2) In fiscal year 2004 and the first half of fiscal year 2005, how did OI use its investigative resources to achieve its goals? (3) How does OI ensure that its resource use contributes to its ability to prevent the exploitation of systemic vulnerabilities in customs and immigration systems?"

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2006-03-28