BackUS panel seeks declassification review of Abbottabad documents
The declassification review must also highlight al Qaeda's growth and spread under bin Laden's leadership, says the US Congressional panel
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Washington: A key US Congressional panel has sought a declassification review of documents collected by Navy SEALs in Abbottabad, Pakistan where al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was killed in a daring raid in 2011.
The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on Thursday passed the Fiscal Year 2014 Intelligence Authorisation Act that sought the declassification review, among other things, to further highlight al Qaeda’s growth and spread under bin Laden’s leadership.
The amendment in this regard was moved by Congressman Devin Nunes by a voice vote. “Devin Nunes authored language in the bill requiring a declassification review of documents collected in Abbottabad, Pakistan, during the Osama bin Laden operation, to further highlight al Qaeda’s growth and spread under bin Laden’s leadership," the committee said in a statement.
The bill provides resources for critical national security programmes, including those that prevent terrorist attacks against Americans. The total intelligence funding authorised by the bill is slightly below the level US President Barack Obama requested. Some highlights include an increase of $75 million to address insider threats; additional funding to improve collection against specific adversaries; full funding of the Director of National Intelligence’s (DNI) information technology modernisation and consolidation initiative.
Additional positions for counter intelligence, maintaining critical Navy Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and medical intelligence, a reduction of over $130 million in space programmes and a reduction of over $75 million in a major information technology effort are some other highlights. The bill now moves to the House Floor for consideration. PTI
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