U.S. citizens to understand foreign cultures, strengthen U.S. economic
competitiveness, and enhance international cooperation and security.
The NSEP was designed to provide American students with the re-
sources and encouragement they need to acquire skills and experience in
countries and areas of the world crucial to the future security of the U.S.NATIONAL SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE (NSPD).
NSPDswere the policy instruments for conveying presidential deci-
sions and guidance to the foreign policy and national security agen-
cies during the administration of George W. Bush. President Bush
also initiated the homeland security presidential directive (HSPD),
which serves the same role in the homeland security area. Although
classified, brief synopses of the NSPDs are available to the public.
See alsoNATIONAL SECURITY DECISION DIRECTIVE; NA-
TIONAL SECURITY DIRECTIVE; PRESIDENTIAL DECISION
DIRECTIVE.NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT LIST (NSTL). The Federal Bu-
reau of Investigation (FBI) established the National Security Threat
List in 1991 to set out the bureau’s foreign counterintelligencemis-
sion. It includes national security issues as well as a classified list of
foreign powers that pose a strategic intelligence threat to U.S. secu-
rity interests.
By creating the National Security Threat List, the FBI changed
its approach from defending against hostile intelligence agencies
to protecting U.S. information and technologies. It identified all
countries—not just hostile intelligence services—that pose a con-
tinuing and serious intelligence threat to the United States. It also
defined expanded threat issues, including the proliferation of
chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons; the loss of critical
technologies; and the improper collection of trade secrets and pro-
prietary information. This portion of the list was developed in con-
cert with the intelligence community (IC).NATIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICE (NTIS).
The National Technical Information Service, part of the Department
of Commerce, produces and disseminates information about eco-
nomic and ancillary issues important to U.S. national security. Cover-140 • NATIONAL SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE05-398 (2) Dictionary.qxd 10/20/05 6:27 AM Page 140