Learn from the mistakes of others

Thursday, April 06, 2006
DOD review of terrorist database shows data retained by mistake
Holly Manges Jones at 12:24 PM ET

[JURIST] The US Department of Defense [official website] said Thursday that a review of one of the government's national security databases, the Threat and Local Observation Notice system or TALON program [Wired report], uncovered approximately 260 improper entries into the system. The database serves as a reporting system for possible threats by international terrorists to Pentagon employees or facilities, and an investigation into the system's contents was launched [JURIST report; press release] in December after reports revealed that it included information on US peace activists who posed no real security threat. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the 260 incorrect entries amounted to less than two percent of the 13,000 total database entries and denied that the TALON program is a form of domestic spying [JURIST news archive] by the US government. Whitman said that the review has also shown the value of the database and according to a March 2006 memo [PDF text] from Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, TALON "has been productive. It has detected international terrorist interest in specific military bases and has led to and supported counterterrorism investigations."

The Pentagon said it will begin oversight reviews of the TALON system, including appointing supervisors to review any material scheduled for entry to ensure it is a proper submission. The entries into the database are made by DOD civilian and military personnel who witness suspicious activities.

Reuters has more.

apparently it's ok to have a few hundred non-terrorists in the terrorist database, because you know, that's not many ...

oversight seems to be the right word for this ... everything seems to have been an oversight ...

Thursday, April 06, 2006
DOD review of terrorist database shows data retained by mistake
Holly Manges Jones at 12:24 PM ET

[JURIST] The US Department of Defense [official website] said Thursday that a review of one of the government's national security databases, the Threat and Local Observation Notice system or TALON program [Wired report], uncovered approximately 260 improper entries into the system. The database serves as a reporting system for possible threats by international terrorists to Pentagon employees or facilities, and an investigation into the system's contents was launched [JURIST report; press release] in December after reports revealed that it included information on US peace activists who posed no real security threat. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the 260 incorrect entries amounted to less than two percent of the 13,000 total database entries and denied that the TALON program is a form of domestic spying [JURIST news archive] by the US government. Whitman said that the review has also shown the value of the database and according to a March 2006 memo [PDF text] from Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, TALON "has been productive. It has detected international terrorist interest in specific military bases and has led to and supported counterterrorism investigations."

The Pentagon said it will begin oversight reviews of the TALON system, including appointing supervisors to review any material scheduled for entry to ensure it is a proper submission. The entries into the database are made by DOD civilian and military personnel who witness suspicious activities.

Reuters has more.

apparently it's ok to have a few hundred non-terrorists in the terrorist database, because you know, that's not many ...

oversight seems to be the right word for this ... everything seems to have been an oversight ...

[JURIST] The State Department announced Thursday afternoon in Washington that the United States will not be seeking membership this year of the new UN Human Rights Council [official website; UN materials; FAQ]. A spokesman said in a press statement ahead of a scheduled daily briefing:

There are strong candidates in our regional group, with long records of support for human rights, that voted in favor of the resolution creating the Council. They should have the opportunity to run....

Since the credibility of the Council depends on its membership, the United States will actively campaign on behalf of candidates genuinely committed to the promotion and protection of human rights, and which will act as responsible members of this new body. We will also actively campaign against states that systematically abuse human rights.

With a strong collective effort in the coming months to make the new Council effective, the United States will likely run for the Council next year.

Last month the US led a tiny minority of 4 countries opposing [JURIST report] the resolution [JURIST document] creating the council, insisting that it wanted more to be done to prevent abusive countries from gaining membership [JURIST report] on the body. There had been speculation that the US would not be able to secure the majority 96 UN General Assembly votes necessary for a successful membership bid. Cuba and Iran are two of the 40 countries that have so far applied for council membership [UN list]; 47 countries will be chosen on May 9.

The new body, which replaces the troubled UN Commission on Human Rights [official website], which held its last meeting on March 27 [JURIST report], meets for the first time in Geneva on June 19. Countries will serve a maximum of two three-year terms.

AP has more.

[JURIST] The State Department announced Thursday afternoon in Washington that the United States will not be seeking membership this year of the new UN Human Rights Council [official website; UN materials; FAQ]. A spokesman said in a press statement ahead of a scheduled daily briefing:

There are strong candidates in our regional group, with long records of support for human rights, that voted in favor of the resolution creating the Council. They should have the opportunity to run....

Since the credibility of the Council depends on its membership, the United States will actively campaign on behalf of candidates genuinely committed to the promotion and protection of human rights, and which will act as responsible members of this new body. We will also actively campaign against states that systematically abuse human rights.

With a strong collective effort in the coming months to make the new Council effective, the United States will likely run for the Council next year.

Last month the US led a tiny minority of 4 countries opposing [JURIST report] the resolution [JURIST document] creating the council, insisting that it wanted more to be done to prevent abusive countries from gaining membership [JURIST report] on the body. There had been speculation that the US would not be able to secure the majority 96 UN General Assembly votes necessary for a successful membership bid. Cuba and Iran are two of the 40 countries that have so far applied for council membership [UN list]; 47 countries will be chosen on May 9.

The new body, which replaces the troubled UN Commission on Human Rights [official website], which held its last meeting on March 27 [JURIST report], meets for the first time in Geneva on June 19. Countries will serve a maximum of two three-year terms.

AP has more.