SECRECY NEWS – DEFENSE DOCTRINE OFFERS INSIGHT INTO MILITARY OPERATIONS

"Reconnaissance assets, like artillery assets, are never kept in reserve,"
according to U.S. Army doctrine.

In other words, whatever means you may have to gather information about
the activities and capabilities of an adversary should be fully deployed,
not held back.

"Reconnaissance units report exactly what they see and, if appropriate,
what they do not see.... Reports of no enemy activity are as important as
reports of enemy activity. Failing to report tells the commander nothing."

That bit of practical wisdom, which may indeed be relevant beyond the
battlefield, is contained in a new Army field manual on the subject. See
"Reconnaissance, Security, and Tactical Enabling Tasks," Volume 2, Field
Manual 3-90.2, March 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-90-2.pdf

It is a companion to "Offense and Defense," Volume 1, Field Manual 3-90.1,
March 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-90-1.pdf

The vast corpus of U.S. military doctrine offers a point of entry into
military thought that may be of interest even -- or especially -- to a
reader who is not a member of "the profession of arms." Some noteworthy
doctrinal publications that have recently been published or updated are
cited below.  While they have a tendency to be jargon heavy and pedestrian,
they are never frivolous or less than professional. Occasionally they offer
impressive subtlety and sophistication or unexpected literary merit.

The distinctive vocabulary of military affairs is presented with
authoritative definitions in a 500-page "Department of Defense Dictionary
of Military and Associated Terms," Joint Publication 1-02, updated March
15, 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/dod/jp1_02.pdf

The conceptual framework of the U.S. military is outlined in Joint
Publication 1, "Doctrine for the Armed Forces of the United States,"
reissued on March 25.  It "provides overarching guidance and fundamental
principles" for the employment of the U.S. military. "War is socially
sanctioned violence to achieve a political purpose," it explains. "The
basic nature of war is immutable, although warfare evolves constantly."

        http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/dod/jp1.pdf

The various functions of the military in humanitarian assistance are
elaborated in "Multi-Service Techniques for Civil Affairs Support to
Foreign Humanitarian Assistance," ATP 3-57.20, February 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/atp3-57-20.pdf

A reference guide for initial assessment and response to an accidental or
deliberate release of biological pathogens, radioactive material or other
hazardous substances is given in "Multi-Service Tactics, Techniques, and
Procedures for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear
Reconnaissance and Surveillance," ATP 3-11.37, March 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/atp3-11-37.pdf

The potential use of biological agents in war and the diagnosis and
treatment of the resulting casualties are described in "Multi-Service
Tactics, Techniques and Procedures for Treatment of Biological Warfare
Casualties," ATP 4-02.84, March 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/atp4-02-84.pdf

The intersection of law and Army operations is delineated in "Legal
Support to the Operational Army," Field Manual 1-04, updated March 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm1-04.pdf

SENATE REPUBS LEAD CONGRESSIONAL USE OF TWITTER, CRS SAYS

Senate Republicans are the most prolific users of Twitter in Congress,
tweeting an average of 1.53 Tweets per day, according to a new report from
the Congressional Research Service.  They were followed by Senate Democrats
(1.49 Tweets on average), House Republicans (1.23), and House Democrats
(1.09).

Senate Republicans were also the most frequent posters on Facebook, with
an average of 0.84 posts per day.

"In 2012, 56% of Twitter-registered Members were Republican and 44% were
Democrats," reported the CRS study, which was performed with the LBJ School
of Public Affairs at the University of Texas in Austin.

Twitter and Facebook "allow Members to communicate directly with
constituents (and others) in a potentially interactive way that is not
possible through mail or e-mail. For Members and their staff, the ability
to collect and transmit real time information to and from constituents
could be influential for issue prioritization, policy decisions, or voting
behavior," CRS said.

However, the new study does not present any data to show that Twitter or
Facebook are actually being used interactively, i.e. that Members are
consistently reading or responding to incoming messages from constituents
or others.  See "Social Networking and Constituent Communications: Members'
Use of Twitter and Facebook During a Two-Month Period in the 112th
Congress," March 22, 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43018.pdf

Some other new reports from the Congressional Research Service include the
following.

Argentina's Post-Crisis Economic Reform: Challenges for U.S. Policy, March
26, 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R43022.pdf

Proposed Cuts to Air Traffic Control Towers Under Budget Sequestration:
Background and Considerations for Congress, March 26, 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43021.pdf

Administrative Agencies and Claims of Unreasonable Delay: Analysis of
Court Treatment, March 21, 2013:

        http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43013.pdf

U.S. and World Coal Production, Federal Taxes, and Incentives, March 14,
2013:

        http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43011.pdf

_______________________________________________
Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the
Federation of American Scientists.

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_______________________
Steven Aftergood
Project on Government Secrecy
Federation of American Scientists
web:    www.fas.org/sgp/index.html
email:  saftergood@fas.org
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twitter: @saftergood