SECRECY NEWS
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
August 1, 2001

**      EUROPEAN UNION STRIVES FOR OPENNESS
**      NEW BILL WOULD LIMIT DOE POLYGRAPHS
**      WHEN VIRUS HYSTERIA STRIKES


EUROPEAN UNION STRIVES FOR OPENNESS

The European Commission issued a White Paper last week that aims to address
widespread public dissatisfaction with politics by increasing the openness
and accountability of European Union institutions.

"Many Europeans feel alienated from the Union's work," according to the
White Paper, and they "no longer trust the complex system to deliver what
they want."

The White Paper identifies five principles that define "good governance":
Openness, Participation, Accountability, Effectiveness, and Coherence.  The
Paper goes on to identify proposed changes in European Union policy derived
from these principles.

"We simply cannot go on as we are," said European Commission President
Romano Prodi.  "The White Paper is not an instant cure for everything, but
it is a serious attempt to address the concerns that many people have."

To a American reader, the White Paper's diagnosis of public disenchantment
with politics is familiar.  Its prescription, however, may seem a little
naive in its faith that political life can be reinvigorated through
procedural changes.  Even so, it is a refreshing reminder that political
institutions are not simply inherited, but are also maintained and can be
recreated by regular people.

"European Governance -- A White Paper" was adopted by the European
Commission on July 25 and published for public comment here:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/governance/white_paper/index_en.htm


NEW BILL WOULD LIMIT DOE POLYGRAPHS

A bill introduced in the Senate yesterday by Sen. Pete Domenici and Sen.
Jeff Bingaman would reduce the number of Department of Energy (DOE)
employees and contractors who are subject to polygraph testing, thereby
reversing congressional action taken last year.

"The effect of past legislation was to require polygraphs for very broad
categories of workers in DOE and in our DOE weapons labs and plants," said
Senator Domenici.  "But the categories specified are really much too broad,
some don't even refer to security-related issues."

Senator Domenici noted further that "Polygraphs are simply not viewed as
scientifically credible by Laboratory staff."

Senator Bingaman echoed that observation: "I've heard directly from many
laboratory employees who question the viability of polygraphs and who have
raised legitimate questions about its accuracy, reliability, and
usefulness."

"It has become clear that the [existing] provision has had a chilling effect
on current and potential employees at the laboratories in a way that could
risk the future health of the workforce at the laboratories," Senator
Bingaman said.

The new bill would reduce the number of DOE employees and contractors
subject to the polygraph, limiting testing to those who have access to "the
most sensitive" nuclear weapons secrets.

Senator Bingaman stressed that the proposed legislation is an "interim"
measure and that further changes to DOE polygraph policy would be expected
after a National Academy of Sciences study is completed next year.

See the July 31 floor statements of Senators Domenici and Bingaman
introducing their new bill (S. 1276) here:

        http://www.fas.org/sgp/congress/2001/s073101.html

Among the considerable resources on polygraph testing offered by polygraph
opponent George Maschke on his web site AntiPolygraph.org, this haiku was
found:

        What is polygraph?
        The Greek means "many writings,"
        but who can read them?


WHEN VIRUS HYSTERIA STRIKES

The Internet did not come crashing down again today, despite the inescapable
warnings that the predatory Code Red worm would unleash its fury last night.

One might hope that each such Internet disaster that fails to come to pass
would lead to a moderation of official rhetoric and a more realistic
assessment of the threat from cyber-terrorism and information warfare.

The Washington Times reported in a remarkable story today that Israel has
been a target of particularly intense cyber-attacks from Islamic militants
and others.  But even this focused "cyber-jihad" has produced limited
consequences, the Times observed:

"Despite recent fears -- often the subject of novels -- that hackers could
cause airplanes to crash, traffic lights to misfire and electric or water
systems to go haywire, [an] Israeli official said, 'I've never heard of a
single successful cyber terrorist attack' against these institutions."

The web site Vmyths.com offers pointed commentary that seeks to deflate
exaggerated or self-serving claims about the threat of computer viruses.
Their resources include a list of things to remember "when virus hysteria
strikes."  See:

        http://vmyths.com/index.cfm

******************************
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
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