From the Radio Free Michigan archives ftp://141.209.3.26/pub/patriot If you have any other files you'd like to contribute, e-mail them to bj496@Cleveland.Freenet.Edu. ------------------------------------------------ [the format of this document is due to to the fact that the text was originally designed for a fold-out pamphlet] THE "BLACK" BUDGET A BRIEF GUIDE TO SECRET NATIONAL SECURITY SPENDING by Paul McGinnis April 1994 INTRODUCTION For many years, the United States has been spending billions of dollars in secret on military programs. The first big project was the "Manhattan" project that developed the American atomic bomb during World War II. Since then, the practice of spending vast sums in secret has been common. Congressional budget analysts estimate that 44 billion dollars will be spent in fiscal year 1994 on the so-called "black" budget. Out of the 44 billion dollars, approximately 26 billion will go to America's spy agencies. This includes well-known intelligence agencies such as the CIA and NSA, as well as new agencies such as the Central Imagery Office (CIO) and the Tactical Reconnaissance Office (TRO). The remaining 18 billion dollars will be spent on secret military programs, particularly in what is known as RDT&E (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation) for advanced weapons. Such programs are often known as Special Access Programs (SAPs), because additional security measures above those used for Secret or Top Secret information are required. This pamphlet will show that the U.S. national security establishment doesn't want you to know how and where some of your tax dollars are spent. SO, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? These programs are basically immune from the normal oversight that is required for other government spending. The actual amounts of money that are spent for each program and the purpose of each program are highly classified, primarily to keep that information hidden from the American taxpayers who have to pay the bills and to keep that information hidden from the press and members of Congress who might want to investigate these programs. One of the fundamental ideas of American democracy is that the U.S. government operates under the informed consent of American citizens, and that the U.S. government works for the American people as public servants. How can anyone say they or their elected officials gave their informed consent to the spending of billions of dollars in secret? The military likes to chant the magic phrase "national security" to hide their actions. Their argument is that such information could be invaluable to enemies of the United States. This is a ludicrous argument -- merely knowing the cost of a program and its purpose is different from having the actual technical details about the program. For example, knowing that the United States has built the B-2 Stealth bomber at a cost of approximately 1 billion dollars per plane doesn't mean that another country could build one or know how to counteract it. WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS AND HOW SECRET PROGRAMS ARE ACTUALLY FUNDED Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 of the U.S. Constitution reads, "No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law; and a regular statement and account of the receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be published from time to time." Spending the taxpayers' money in secret clearly violates the U.S. Constitution. It's ironic that the military officers who support Special Access Programs take an oath to uphold the Constitution, but ignore parts of the Constitution that don't fit in with their plans. Congress has authority over all U.S. government spending, but usually doesn't look too closely at these secret programs. Knowledge of Special Access Programs is limited to members of the House and Senate Armed Service Committees or the Senate Intelligence Committee who have a "need to know". Even with this secrecy, a category of SAPs has been created known as "waived" SAPs that only the Chairmen of these committees are allowed to know about. The General Accounting Office (GAO) has the responsibility for auditing government spending, but testimony at a House of Representatives hearing indicated that only 5% to 10% of SAPs are ever audited. It can be said that the policy of the national security establishment towards the funding of these programs is the same as the attitude of a street gang committing a robbery: "Just give us the money and don't ask any questions!!" YOUR TAX DOLLARS HARD AT WORK... In Congressional budget documents, secret military programs have a single line entry that includes only a Program Element number (PE) such as 0603105F, and either a code- name such as OLYMPIC or vague description such as "special evaluation program". One of the ways to estimate the costs of such programs is that dollar totals are listed for groups of related programs. Subtracting the cost of the non-classified programs from the total gives a budget analyst an idea of the cost of the secret programs. Other documents may give clues as to the purpose of a particular Special Access Program. Piecing this information together, and using other sources, here are examples of secret military programs in recent years that most people have never heard of: o A massive military satellite, code- named LACROSSE was orbited in 1988. This satellite, which weighed approximately 36,000 lbs. at launch, and fully extended, is 150 feet long, contains a high powered digital radar that is used to map target approaches for U.S. bombers and to study the damage they cause to their targets. During the Gulf War, it was found that this satellite could actually "see" several feet underground. The environmental effects of a low orbiting radar with a power of 10000 watts are unknown. o Several years ago, the U.S. Air Force declassified the existence of a program code-named RIVET RIDER (later known as VOLANT SOLO). This program fitted C-130 transport aircraft with AM/FM and color television transmitters and antennas. As part of U.S. psychological warfare operations, these aircraft were used to spread American propaganda during events such as the invasion of Panama. o In recent years, the Pentagon has shown so much interest in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) that a Joint Program Office (UAV-JPO) was created to coordinate the efforts of the military services in this area. U.S. planners apparently realized the benefit of using small, remotely or computer controlled aircraft for intelligence gathering after Israeli successes with them in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. One example of such a vehicle that has been tested is code-named SPRITE -- this vehicle resembles a sphere with helicopter rotor blades. Another example is the GNAT 750, a small aircraft that looks like a scaled down fighter plane. o The U.S. Air Force has a program code-named SENIOR CITIZEN (PE 0401316F) that has been funded as a secret tactical aircraft. In fiscal year 1994, this aircraft was not funded as a RDT&E program, suggesting that it is in operational use. Available evidence indicates that this may be the bat- winged Stealth aircraft that was recently photographed in New Mexico (see for example, the illustration in the February 1994 issue of "WIRED" magazine). Some people refer to this aircraft as the Northrop TR-3A. History may repeat itself with this aircraft -- the F117A Stealth fighter (code-named SENIOR TREND) was operational for 5 years before its existence was revealed. o At least 2 billion dollars are spent per year on photographic reconnaissance satellites (some of these programs are funded under PE 0304111F and 0304111N - "special activities"). The U.S. is very reluctant to admit that it operates spy satellites, preferring instead to obliquely refer to "national capabilities" or "national technical means." o A large, secret U.S. Air Force facility exists at Groom Lake, in a remote part of Nevada. Satellite images of the area around 115 deg. 49' West, 37 deg. 15' North, show this facility expanding over the years. This place is used to test secret American military aircraft. It was originally built by the CIA in the 1950s for the U-2 spy plane. The SENIOR CITIZEN aircraft mentioned above may also have been tested there. The article about this facility in the March 1994 issue of "Popular Science" magazine must have caused acute embarrassment for the Air Force, since this place doesn't officially exist. (Maps of the area, such as those from the U.S. Geological Survey, show just an empty dry lake bed.) o Although the Department of Defense has claimed that it had great success in tracking down mobile Scud missile launchers during the Gulf War, it has had to urgently create and fund a project code-named WAR BREAKER (PE 0603226E) to find ways of locating tactical ballistic missile launchers. SOURCES OF MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE "BLACK" BUDGET Probably the single best introduction to secret military spending is Tim Weiner's book "Blank Check" (1990, Warner Books). Two organizations that seek to reform the problem of excessive secrecy in the U.S. military are: Federation of American Scientists 307 Massachusetts Avenue NE Washington, DC 20002 phone: (202) 546-3300 -and- Secrecy Oversight Council HCR Box 38 Rachel, NV 89001 Government documents, such as the "National Defense Authorization Act" that the House and Senate Armed Services Committees write each year can be consulted for some information. On Congressional budget documents, secret programs have the indication [] where the cost should be. Other sources of government documents include the Government Printing Office (GPO) and the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). "Aviation Week" and other defense industry publications often contain leaks about secret military programs. Some information may be obtained by using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). There are several useful books on using FOIA, such as "Your Right to Government Information", distributed by the American Civil Liberties Union. Almost invariably, the military will turn down a request for the amount or purpose of a secret program. You should be prepared to challenge them with a FOIA appeal or legal action if appropriate. You might get an interesting response if you ask elected officials such as Senator Sam Nunn, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, or Ronald Dellums, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, about the issue of secret military spending. I wrote this pamphlet, and have funded its distribution, to educate the public about the problem of excessive secrecy under the guise of "national security." I can be contacted at: Paul McGinnis P.O. Box 28084 Santa Ana, CA 92799 USA or, by electronic mail at: Internet: TRADER@cup.portal.com GEnie: EXP.ENG- Compuserve: 76056,201 America Online: PaulMcG ------------------------------------------------ (This file was found elsewhere on the Internet and uploaded to the Radio Free Michigan site by the archive maintainer. Protection of Individual Rights and Liberties. E-mail bj496@Cleveland.Freenet.Edu)