Posted on 07/10/2004 7:36:05 AM PDT by dts32041
Senate intelligence failure -
Yesterday, through the release of its long-awaited report, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence unanimously blamed the CIA for errant assertions and mistaken assumptions about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs. Much of that scathing criticism is well-deserved. However, the blame must be shared by the members of the committee, who failed badly in their constitutional duty of oversight.
There was "a global intelligence failure" at the CIA, said Committee Chairman Sen. Pat Roberts, Kansas Republican. Many of the declarations of the October 2002 National Intelligence Estimate have collapsed, and no surprise, since the estimate rested on a faulty foundation of mistakes and uncertainties. Those misjudgments and wrong assumptions were layered on one another, and made worse by the failure of human intelligence collection efforts. The assumption that Iraq had a growing WMD program was never adequately challenged — the entire structure of assumptions and uncertainties was neither shaken nor stirred before the war. Senators found "no evidence" that pressure was put on members of the intelligence community to mischaracterize Iraq's WMD programs (although at yesterday's press conference, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, vice chairman of the committee and who signed the finding, argued about what the definition of "pressure" is).
But the senators who criticized the intelligence community for its failures played a major part in the subsequent tragedy. Committee members — including Sen. John Edwards — were charged with the duty of oversight and received the necessary powers to do so. They had access to the classified materials; they had the authority to question CIA executives and analysts; they had the means to explore and probe. So where were the senators while the failures were building? It's likely they were looking the other way.
House members had access to materials about Iraq's WMD programs — in 19 neatly organized binders. Yet few representatives reviewed them, according to Stephen Dinan of The Washington Times. In a dispatch last July, Mr. Dinan wrote for this newspaper that "Fewer than a dozen House members have taken the time to review more than 10,000 pages of intelligence documents backing up administration claims about Iraq, which were made available more than a month ago." Presumably, senators had access to some — if not all — of that material.
Unintentional as it may be, the committee's exhaustive report speaks eloquently to the failures of those who produced it. Had the senators and their staff who dedicated so many resources to examining the failures of intelligence after the war pursued proof of Iraq's WMD in the same painstaking manner during the buildup to the war, the debate may have been more useful.
The Senate's pointed report demonstrates both the failure of the intelligence gatherers and the failure of their congressional overseers.
Church, torch, kennedy, et al
If the senate has any intelligence, they should be made to prove it.
Remember how the CIA controlled the minds of minorities by using radio signals broadcast through teeth fillings?
Frankly, I would fire every analyst, and find people that are truly interested in the security of the United States....Not some sleezy Evil Dum politcian.
Where is the senate and Kosovo???
The intelligence failure covered Congress, the adminstration, and the bureaucracy in general in addition to the CIA. There is a certain amount of paranoia included in all the judgements. The CYA attitude also permeates all the problems. Until common sense replaces the attitude of propaganda uber alles, don't expect much improvement in our professional intelligence capabilities.
If they had access to everything, then why weren't they so smart as to see this coming?
Saddam gone! Chance for Middle east democracy. Kurds safe . . No intelligence failure!
The Intelligence community has to run around with their hands tied behind their backs, with one eye closed, and without the proper resources BECAUSE of people like Kerry...and then it's all their fault IF something goes wrong.
Still not sold on the NO WMD's yet! What about all the 'reports' af stuff being transported to Syria?? The satelite photos/film that is supposedly "classified" and the CIA won't release it...NOW would be a good time to release it and CYA!!!!
And there were enough sarin/missles found already that would have killed thousands correct???
An envelope with BW chemicals in it could kill thousands...this crap can still be hidden anywhere for Pete's Sake!!
If he NEVER had the stuff then explain that to the Kurds!!
They got The Report, waited 5 minutes, then called in the cameras.
1. Clinton had the same intelligence
2. The UN has a mile long list of IRAQI WMD that are unaccounted for.
The treaty with Iraq was "conditional". The war therefore never ended but was merely in limbo awaiting the cooperation of Saddam..which not only never happened, he kicked the "finders" out of his country.
Isn't the Boy VP on it?
Or was on it?
Shouldn't he have been put on the defensive for not using Senatorial oversight to keep the agency strong.
Even today we are unable to round up suspects as evidenced by the hysterical reaction to putting women's underwear on the head of suspected terrorists.
We can only pray for Attorney General Ashcroft and President Bush and hope that the terrorists don't know for sure what we know or what we will do with what we know.
Rant over!
boyvp was on it, but since he's in just his 1st term as a Senator, he might not have been on it for long.
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That's funny. Except it should also show him snowboarding, bicycling, playing baseball, riding the Harley (actually it is a Honda, but Harley sounded more impressive), etc., and then have the caption: "I just haven't had time."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, November 5, 2003WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Zell Miller (D-GA) today released the following statement concerning a memo written by Democratic staff on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that suggests ways to politicize intelligence data:
“I have often said that the process in Washington is so politicized and polarized that it can’t even be put aside when we’re at war. Never has that been proved more true than the highly partisan and perhaps treasonous memo prepared for the Democrats on the Intelligence Committee.
“Of all the committees, this is the one single committee that should unquestionably be above partisan politics. The information it deals with should never, never be distorted, compromised or politicized in any shape, form or fashion. For it involves the lives of our soldiers and our citizens. Its actions should always be above reproach; its words never politicized.
“If what has happened here is not treason, it is its first cousin. The ones responsible - be they staff or elected or both should be dealt with quickly and severely sending a lesson to all that this kind of action will not be tolerated, ignored or excused.
“Heads should roll!”
To read the original leaked memo to the Democrat members of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, click here: DemMemoGate
Also from that chapter is the comment by Democrat Zell Miller of Georgia, who described the plot as "the first cousin of Treason."
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