The Pentagon is requesting a total of $19.2 billion for its classified and unclassified intell igence activities in Fiscal 2013, announced defense officials on Monday. This total includes activities covered in DOD’s base budget as well as its overseas contingency operations accounts. Disclosing this topline figure “does not jeopardize any classified activities” within the military intelligence program, states DOD’s release. However, the Pentagon will not release any other MIP budget figures or program details, “as they remain classified for national security reasons,” it notes. DOD has not disclosed how much it plans to spend in this fiscal year on its intelligence activities. In Fiscal 2011, Congress appropriated $24 billion for the MIP. The total was $27 billion in Fiscal 2010.
Earlier this week, the People’s Republic of China confirmed it is halting its nuclear arms control talks with the U.S., in retaliation for the U.S. continuing to sell arms to Taiwan. The move reinforces a “pattern of behavior” from Beijing, experts say.