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Bush OKs First National Counterintel Plan
AP on Yahoo ^ | 3/28/05 | Katherine Schrader - AP

Posted on 03/28/2005 6:07:08 PM PST by NormsRevenge

WASHINGTON - President Bush has approved the nation's first counterintelligence strategy, directing the intelligence agencies to go on the offensive — together — against foreign and terrorist threats.

Counterintelligence is the government-wide effort to protect against foreign espionage and intelligence collection. But professionals in this narrow specialty concede the work has largely been done piecemeal by the 15 agencies that make up the U.S. intelligence community, and often in reaction to intelligence that's already been lost.

Released Monday, the president's strategy directs the intelligence community to "identify, assess, neutralize and exploit the intelligence activities" of countries, terrorist groups and international criminal organizations who are out to harm U.S. interests. Bush signed the document on March 1.

It also calls on the agencies to protect U.S. intelligence collection and analysis methods from penetration and manipulation.

The 14-page unclassified version of the strategy lacked details and specifics, making it difficult to assess its impact. Intelligence officials have noted that much of the nation's intelligence focus has gone to fighting terrorism.

The strategy warns that terrorists can "gain significantly" with the support of other governments. That means "the intelligence services of these regimes can be links in the global terrorist support network."

National Counterintelligence Executive Michelle Van Cleave, whose office assembled the strategy for Bush, has argued for an offensive stance. "No longer will we wait until we have been harmed to act," Van Cleave said recently.

Created in 2002, her office is supposed to coordinate the government's far-flung counterintelligence activities.

The strategy says she'll work closely with the new national intelligence director to find the best way to protect against threats that include foreign intelligence services, terrorists, criminal enterprises and cyber intruders. They will examine whether to establish a center specifically focused on counterintelligence.

One counterintelligence official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said a key element of the strategy is "creative counterintelligence."

The official said that means maintaining such a strong system that enemies don't know if people who approach them with intelligence — like FBI spy Robert Hanssen — are truly disaffected government employees or double agents. Hanssen gave secrets to the Soviets for over 21 years.

"Since 1985, nearly 80 Americans have been arrested for crimes related to passing classified information to foreign governments," the strategy says. "These spies were able to operate undetected for too long with disastrous results."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bush; bush43; counterintel; counterintelligence; gwot; national; plan; term2
The Smok'em lamp is lit.
1 posted on 03/28/2005 6:07:13 PM PST by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge

RE: That means "the intelligence services of these regimes can be links in the global terrorist support network."

Yep. It's not 100% "non state actors."


2 posted on 03/28/2005 6:09:02 PM PST by GOP_1900AD (Stomping on "PC," destroying the Left, and smoking out faux "conservatives" - Take Back The GOP!)
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To: NormsRevenge
"Since 1985, nearly 80 Americans have been arrested for crimes related to passing classified information to foreign governments," the strategy says. "These spies were able to operate undetected for too long with disastrous results."

Another "legacy" of Clintonistas. Results of them trying to "balance" the power, giving away secrets, like the famous hard drive from Alamos, etc.

Where can FReepers apply for job of spy chasers?

3 posted on 03/28/2005 6:19:34 PM PST by Leo Carpathian (FReeeePeee!)
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To: NormsRevenge
Over half of the US intel budget is already spent on counter-intelligence, including disinformation and "counter-counter-intelligence". Is this new and different?
4 posted on 03/28/2005 6:22:06 PM PST by SteveMcKing
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To: NormsRevenge
?What Can Terri Schiavo Supporters Really Do?

/sarcasm?

5 posted on 03/28/2005 6:32:17 PM PST by maestro
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To: Leo Carpathian
After what we saw what the Clinton administration did to the USA, one would think that, they with the help of the communist were trying to overthrow the USA, when we look back at that, it would not have been to far fetched to imagine.
6 posted on 03/28/2005 6:32:23 PM PST by Prophet in the wilderness (PSALM 53 : 1 The ( FOOL ) hath said in his heart , There is no GOD .)
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To: NormsRevenge; Old Sarge; HiJinx; darkwing104

Ya'll see this?


7 posted on 03/28/2005 6:49:21 PM PST by StarCMC (It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden; it's our job to arrange the meeting.)
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To: StarCMC

See it?

Uh-huh, and that ain't all...shhhhh....


8 posted on 03/28/2005 7:31:38 PM PST by HiJinx (~ www.ProudPatriots.org ~ Next up is Operation 4th of July)
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To: SteveMcKing
.... counter-intelligence, including disinformation and "counter-counter-intelligence." Is this new and different?

Yes. Much of this will be done under the counter.

9 posted on 03/28/2005 7:45:58 PM PST by Mind-numbed Robot (Not all things that need to be done need to be done by the government.)
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To: NormsRevenge

BUMP


10 posted on 03/28/2005 7:46:53 PM PST by Alia
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To: Spook86; BIGLOOK; xzins; Grampa Dave; MineralMan; elfman2; ThanhPhero; xusafflyer; tht73a; ...

MI Ping


11 posted on 03/29/2005 4:26:46 AM PST by ASA Vet (Vigilant Always)
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