Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports and Issue Briefs articles from November 2008

Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports and Issue Briefs archives from November 2008

Pakistan-U.S. relations.
November 1, 2008... November 10, 2008 K. Alan Kronstadt Specialist in South Asian Affairs kkronstadt@crs.loc.gov, 7-5415

Introduction.(Pakistan-U.S. Relations)
November 1, 2008... A stable, democratic, prosperous Pakistan actively working to counter Islamist militancy is considered vital to U.S. interests. Current top-tier U.S. concerns regarding Pakistan include regional and global terrorism; Afghan stability; domestic...

Key current issues.(Pakistan-U.S. Relations)
November 1, 2008... Pakistan's worsening economic conditions, fluid political setting, and perilous security circumstances make the job of U.S. decision makers difficult. On the economic front, the newly elected civilian government in Islamabad faces crises that...

Setting and regional relations.(Pakistan-U.S. Relations)
November 1, 2008... Historical Setting The long and checkered Pakistan-U.S. relationship has its roots in the Cold War and South Asia regional politics of the 1950s. U.S. concerns about Soviet expansionism and Pakistan's desire for security assistance against...

Pakistan-U.S. relations and key country issues.(Pakistan-U.S. Relations)
November 1, 2008... U.S. policy interests in Pakistan encompass a wide range of issues, including counterterrorism, nuclear weapons and missile proliferation, South Asian and Afghan stability, democratization and human rights, trade and economic reform, and...

U.S. international trade: trends and forecasts.
November 1, 2008... COntents Most Recent Developments 1 Trade in Goods 1 Trade in Services 1 Trade in Goods...

Iran's nuclear program: status.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... Updated November 20, 2008 Contents Background 1 Recent Nuclear Controversy 3 Iran's Cooperation with the IAEA 6 Status of Iran's Nuclear Programs...

Iran: ethnic and religious minorities.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... Updated November 25, 2008 For further information and analysis on Iran, and U.S. options, see CRS Report RL32048, Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses, by Kenneth Katzman. This report will be updated as warranted. Contents ...

The President-elect: succession and disability issues during the transition period.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... Introduction Presidential transitions in the past half-century have generally been characterized by high levels of activity and frequent improvisation as the President-elect's team works to finalize personnel and policy arrangements for...

Border searches of laptop computers and other electronic storage devices.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... Updated November 17, 2008 Contents Introduction Border Search Exception Judicial Developments On Laptop Searches United States v. Ickes United States v. Romm United States v. Arnold U.S. Customs and Border...

The National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility: issues for Congress.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... Updated November 25, 2008 Contents Introduction NBAF Research Goals NBAF Site Selection Process Expressions of Interest Prospective Sites Finalists Final Site Selection Criteria NBAF Funding Site...

Nuclear cooperation agreement with Russia: statutory procedures for congressional consideration and their implementation.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... Updated November 26, 2008 Contents Most Recent Developments 1 Introduction and Overview 1 Nuclear Cooperation with Russia and the Atomic Energy Act 1...

The World Bank's Clean Technology Fund (CTF).(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... In February 2008, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States announced their intention to create a set of funds at the World Bank to help developing countries "bridge the gap between dirty and clean energy" and "boost the World Bank's...

United Nations System funding: congressional issues.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... Updated November 13, 2008 Contents Most Recent Developments 1 Current Funding Information 2 Introduction ...

The U.S. financial crisis: the global dimension with implications for U.S. policy.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... November 18, 2008

Recent developments and analysis.(The U.S. Financial Crisis: The Global Dimension with Implications for U.S. Policy)
November 1, 2008... November 15. At a summit of leaders from the G-20 nations (including the G8, the European Union, Australia and 10 major emerging economies), leaders agreed to continue taking steps to stabilize the global financial system and improve the...

The global financial crisis and U.S. interests.(The U.S. Financial Crisis: The Global Dimension with Implications for U.S. Policy)
November 1, 2008... What began as a bursting of the U.S. housing market bubble and a rise in foreclosures has ballooned into a global financial and economic crisis. Some of the largest and most venerable banks, investment houses, and insurance companies have...

Origins, contagion, and risk.(The U.S. Financial Crisis: The Global Dimension with Implications for U.S. Policy)
November 1, 2008... Financial crises of some kind occur sporadically virtually every decade and in various locations around the world. Financial meltdowns have occurred in countries ranging from Sweden to Argentina, from Russia to Korea, from the United Kingdom to...

Effects on emerging markets.(The U.S. Financial Crisis: The Global Dimension with Implications for U.S. Policy)
November 1, 2008... The global credit crunch that began in August 2007 has led to a financial crisis in emerging market countries (see box) that is being viewed as greater in both scope and effect than the East Asian financial crisis of 1997-98 or the Latin...

Effects on Europe and the European response.(The U.S. Financial Crisis: The Global Dimension with Implications for U.S. Policy)
November 1, 2008... Financial markets in the United States and Europe have become highly integrated as a result of cross-border investment by banks, securities brokers, and other financial firms. As a result of this integration, economic and financial developments...

Impact on Asia and the Asian response.(The U.S. Financial Crisis: The Global Dimension with Implications for U.S. Policy)
November 1, 2008... Many Asian economies have been through wrenching financial crises in the past 10-15 years. Although most observers say the region's economic fundamentals have improved greatly in the past decade, this crisis provides a worrying sense of deja...

New challenges and policy in managing financial risk.(The U.S. Financial Crisis: The Global Dimension with Implications for U.S. Policy)
November 1, 2008... The Challenges So far, the actions of the United States and other nations in coping with the global financial crisis have been primarily to contain the contagion, minimize losses to society, restore confidence in financial institutions and...

Selected legislation.(The U.S. Financial Crisis: The Global Dimension with Implications for U.S. Policy)
November 1, 2008... H.R. 1424 [110th] Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. A bill to provide authority for the Federal Government to purchase and insure certain types of troubled assets for the purposes of providing stability to and preventing disruption...

U.S. arms sales: agreements with and deliveries to major clients, 2000-2007.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... November 26, 2008 Contents U.S. Agreements with Leading Purchasers, 2000-2007 1 U.S. Deliveries to Leading Purchasers, 2000-2007 4 This report provides background data on U.S. arms sales...

United Nations peacekeeping: issues for Congress.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... Updated November 13, 2008 Marjorie Ann Browne Specialist in International Relations Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division

Most recent developments.(United Nations Peacekeeping: Issues for Congress)
November 1, 2008... On February 4, 2008, the President, in his budget for FY2009, requested $1,497,000,000 for U.S. contributions to U.N. peacekeeping operation assessed accounts in the Contributions to International Peacekeeping Activities (CIPA) account,...

Introduction.(United Nations Peacekeeping: Issues for Congress)
November 1, 2008... The role of the United Nations in facilitating dispute settlement and establishing peacekeeping operations to monitor cease-fires and participate in other duties as assigned by the U.N. Security Council increased markedly in the 1990s. Between...

Current funding situation.(United Nations Peacekeeping: Issues for Congress)
November 1, 2008... Fiscal Year 2009 On February 4, 2008, the President, in his budget for FY2009, requested $1,497,000,000 for U.S. contributions to U.N. peacekeeping operation assessed accounts in the Contributions to International Peacekeeping Activities...

Basic information.(United Nations Peacekeeping: Issues for Congress)
November 1, 2008... United Nations peacekeeping might be defined as the placement of military personnel or forces in a country or countries to perform basically non-military functions in an impartial manner. These functions might include supervision of a cessation...

U.N. proposals for strengthening peacekeeping.(United Nations Peacekeeping: Issues for Congress)
November 1, 2008... Agenda for Peace (1992) As peacekeeping became an option of choice to resolve conflicts in the post-Cold War world, proposals were made for strengthening the U.N. response to all aspects of this peace and security challenge. On January 31,...

The United States and peacekeeping proposals.(United Nations Peacekeeping: Issues for Congress)
November 1, 2008... The Clinton Administration initially supported collective security through the United Nations as a centerpiece of its foreign policy. Later, President Clinton, in a September 1993 speech to the U.N. General Assembly, called on the Security...

Congress and United Nations peacekeeping: 1991-2006.(United Nations Peacekeeping: Issues for Congress)
November 1, 2008... Overview Congress has, over the years, used authorizations and especially appropriations bills to express its views and enhance its oversight of U.S. executive branch actions and uses of United Nations peacekeeping operations. This has...

The 2009 U.N. Durban Review Conference: follow-up to the 2001 U.N. World Conference Against Racism.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... November 20, 2008 Contents Introduction 1 Overview of U.N. Activities to Address Racism 2 Previous U.N. Efforts ...

Senate committee party ratios: 94th--110th Congresses.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... November 18, 2008 Contents Sources and Method 1 Comparative Analysis of Ratios 2 109th and 110th Congresses ...

Section 1206 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2006: a fact sheet on Department of Defense authority to train and equip foreign military forces.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... Section 1206 of the FY2006 NDAA (P.L. 109-163), as amended, provides the Secretary of Defense with a new authority to train and equip foreign military forces and foreign maritime security forces. This is the first major DOD authority to be used...

Sea-based ballistic missile defense--background and issues for Congress.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... Updated November 21, 2008 Ronald O'Rourke Specialist in Naval Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division

Introduction.(Sea-Based Ballistic Missile Defense--Background and Issues for Congress)
November 1, 2008... As part of its effort to develop a global ballistic missile defense (BMD) system, the Department of Defense (DOD) has modified three Navy cruisers and 15 Navy destroyers for BMD operations, and has deployed a large BMD radar--the SeaBased...

Background.(Sea-Based Ballistic Missile Defense--Background and Issues for Congress)
November 1, 2008... Rationale for Sea-Based BMD Systems DOD's overall BMD plan includes ground-based, sea-based, airborne, and space-based systems, each of which have potential strengths and limitations. DOD believes that a combination of these systems will...

Potential issues for Congress.(Sea-Based Ballistic Missile Defense--Background and Issues for Congress)
November 1, 2008... Technical Risk How much technical risk is there in the Aegis BMD program? One potential oversight issue for Congress is how much technical risk there is in the Aegis BMD program. A March 2008 Government Accountability Office (GAO)...

Legislative activity for FY2009.(Sea-Based Ballistic Missile Defense--Background and Issues for Congress)
November 1, 2008... FY2009 Defense Authorization Bill (S. 3001/P.L. 110-417) House. The House Armed Services Committee, in its report (H.Rept. 110-652 of May 16, 2008) on the FY2009 defense authorization bill (H.R. 5658), recommended a total of $111 million in...

Appendix A. strengths and limitations of sea-based BMD systems.(Sea-Based Ballistic Missile Defense--Background and Issues for Congress)
November 1, 2008... Potential Strengths Potential strengths of sea-based BMD systems compared to other BMD systems include the following: * Advantageous locations at sea. Sea-based systems can conduct BMD operations from locations at sea that are...

Appendix B. arms control considerations.(Sea-Based Ballistic Missile Defense--Background and Issues for Congress)
November 1, 2008... No arms control treaty currently in force limits sea-based BMD systems. The U.S.-Soviet Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, which was in force from 1972 until the United States withdrew from the treaty in 2002, prohibited sea-based defenses...

Appendix C. aegis BMD flight tests.(Sea-Based Ballistic Missile Defense--Background and Issues for Congress)
November 1, 2008... From January 2002 through November 2008, the Aegis BMD system has achieved 14 successful exo-atmospheric intercepts in 18 attempts. This total includes one successful intercept and one unsuccessful intercept by Japanese Aegis ships in two...

Russia's economic performance and policies and their implications for the United States.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... Updated November 5, 2008 Contents The Immediate Post-Soviet Period 2 Recent Economic Trends 6 Internal Economic Conditions and Trends ...

Reporting requirements in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... Updated November 13, 2008 Contents Reports by the Secretary of the Treasury 2 Section 102(b) (Troubled Asset Relief Program) 2 Section 105(a) (General Reports) ...

Recess appointments made by President George W. Bush, January 20, 2001-October 31, 2008.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... Updated November 3, 2008 Under the Constitution, the President and the Senate share the power to make appointments to the highest-level politically appointed positions in the federal government. (1) The Constitution also empowers the...

Proposed Colombia free trade agreement: labor issues.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... November 24, 2008 Contents Background 2 Political Context 2 Trade/Economic Context ...

Presidential transitions: issues involving outgoing and incoming administrations.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... Updated November 25, 2008 Subject Areas and CRS Staff Area of Expertise Name Div. Telephone Agency Rulemaking Rick Beth G&F 7-8667 Curtis...

The President's Office of Science and Technology Policy: issues for Congress.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... November 10, 2008 Contents History 2 Overview 4 Role of OSTP Director ...

Party leaders in the United States Congress, 1789-2009.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... Updated November 25, 2008 Contents Introduction and Methodological Notes 1 Identifying House Leaders 3 Identifying Senate Leaders ...

Pakistan's capital crisis: implications for U.S. policy.(CRS Report for Congress)
November 1, 2008... A stable, democratic, prosperous Pakistan is considered vital to U.S. interests. (1) U.S. concerns regarding Pakistan include regional and global terrorism; Afghan stability; democratization and human rights protection; the ongoing Kashmir...