Short Takes – 7-6-23

Pentagon Warns of Overcorrection on Secrets After Alleged Teixeira Leaks. WSJ.com article. Pull quote: “Concerns about how the government protects national security information prompted an influential bipartisan group of senators to introduce legislation in May that would significantly overhaul aspects of the classification system, including the security clearance process. While prospects for the legislation are unclear, some lawmakers have said they may attempt to insert provisions of the bill in must-pass annual legislation funding the administration’s defense and intelligence agencies.”

Five Scenarios on Whether Tehran’s Nuclear Ambition Can Be Stopped. NationalInterest.org commentary. Pull quote: “In the long run, the best strategy is to put maximum pressure on the regime and provide maximum support to the Iranian people to bring down the regime. In the short run, reviving the maximum pressure while preparing for a military strike as a last resort remains the only realistic option.” Question not asked: Would a nuclear armed Iran be any more dangerous than a nuclear armed North Korea?

Germany’s great escape. ProspectMagazine.com article. Pull quote: “Looking back on 2022, Habeck and his officials would be justified in a sense of achievement. Heat pump installations rose 25 per cent and might have gone further with more skilled workers to install them. Dutch, French and Belgian LNG workers had doubled the flow of gas from their countries into Germany. The government had not lost support, while gains many feared the AfD would make did not materialise. The country entered the winter with a record 64 per cent of its gas storage capacity full. Those who had argued that Germany could do without Russian gas turned out to be right.”

Energy Transition with Hydrogen Generated on Rooftops. HomelandSecurityNewswire.com article. Pull quote: “Kant thinks that wide use of such novel photoreactor modules for the production of hydrogen or fuels on roofs or in solar farms might be one of the big technological chances of humankind in fighting the climate crisis: “This may make the use of fossil energy carriers superfluous.” Kant directed the research activities while working on his doctorate with Professor Roland Dittmeyer at IMVT. They are embedded in the Helmholtz Program Materials and Technologies for the Energy Transition.”

NERC: Supplemental Notice of Joint Technical Conference. Federal Register NERC meeting notice. Purpose: “The purpose of this conference is to discuss physical security of the Bulk-Power System, including the adequacy of existing physical security controls, challenges, and solutions. The conference will include two parts and four panel discussions. Part 1 will address the effectiveness of Reliability Standard CIP–014–3 (Physical Security) and include two panels on the applicability of CIP–014–3 and minimum levels of physical protection. Part 2 will address solutions beyond Reliability Standard CIP–014–3 and include two panels on physical security best practices and operational preparedness and planning a more resilient grid.”

Hurricane forecast worsens, above-average activity expected this year. TheHill.com article. Pull quote: “The exact prediction includes nine hurricanes, where winds reach at least 74 mph, and four major hurricanes, where winds reach up to 111 mph or greater. The April prediction had expected only six hurricanes.”