Posted on 07/27/2006 10:46:03 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Sweeping reforms to the nation's intelligence system after the 9/11 attacks have done little to improve information-sharing or generate a greater sense of urgency among U.S. intelligence agencies, a House report concluded Thursday.
The report by the House Select Intelligence Committee also gave National Intelligence Director John Negroponte a tepid review after 15 months on the job, noting he "is trying to do a little of everything, which slows down improvements in key areas."
In their 41-page review of how the nation's 16 intelligence agencies have adjusted since Congress overhauled the system in December 2004, lawmakers found a "mixed story."
"Some good, needed steps have been taken, while other reforms have lagged," the report found. "Some believe that the new structure is too cumbersome and bureaucratic; others believe that the director of national intelligence is not showing the leadership and degree of change for which they hoped."
Responding, Negroponte's office said it has "acted with urgency and focus" in retooling the intelligence community that was widely criticized in report after report for failures leading up to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Separately, Negroponte issued his own 9-page report detailing steps his office has taken in its first year to better collect, analyze and share information, and otherwise strengthen the intelligence system.
The intelligence community "has made critical improvements to the security of the United States of America," Negroponte's report concluded, adding that the agencies have "met considerable success" and have "clear plans for moving forward."
The House report credited intelligence agencies with better communication through videoconference calls. It found that intelligence reports to the president and Congress were improved with the inclusion of information from secondary intelligence agencies.
But it noted that information sharing among the agencies remains a top concern, citing an interview with a National Counterterror Center official who said that his office was analyzing much of the same intelligence as the CIA and Pentagon. And it called the amount of time taken to establish a civil liberties oversight board "disappointing at best."
The report also rapped Negroponte's leadership ability, saying he needs to develop performance plans with the leaders of the disparate intelligence agencies and be more responsive to Congress.
Above all, the report concluded, Negroponte must "create an environment in which agencies complement each other rather than compete against each other."
That "is no easy task," the report conceded.
Negroponte's office said the House review "acknowledges the complexity and importance of the task before us."
"Similarly, we recognize that change does not come easily to large enterprises and that we must continue to aggressively work to fulfill the mandate of the intelligence reform legislation," Negroponte's office said in a statement.
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On the Net:
House Permanent Select Committee on intelligence: http://intelligence.house.gov/default.aspx
Office of the Director of National Intelligence: http://www.dni.gov/index.htm
Known terrorist Ahmed Ressam is displayed on a giant monitor at the Los Angeles Joint Regional Intelligence Center in Norwalk, Calif. on Thursday, July 27, 2006. in Norwalk, Calif. Hoping to better secure Southern California against attacks, federal and local law enforcement agencies have banded together to create a first of its kind command center to improve intelligence sharing on terrorist threats. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
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MI Ping
Well, first of all, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence needs some intelligence.
It took we voters to get rid of one committee member who by the House's own rules was a national security risk. He's now moved to Arizona and selling ice cream at a couple of Baskin Robbins stores.
He has such a keen sense of business, Baskin Robbins has now filed suit against him and his two kids who own and operate the stores. On top of that, BR took away his franchise license.
We always said, We have not forgotten, Gary Condit's Rotten!
But back to the original thought, given all the crap that takes place in Congress, it's obvious that there is no intelligent life in DC. The title should read, More Intelligence Needed in Washington.
In North Ireland we had too many agencies without a unified command structure.
There was Army Intelligence, RUC Intelligence, MI5, MI6, special Branch Irish and English section and a host of other units.
The problem was of turf who was responsible for what, and there were cases of operations being run by one agency get entangled in a operation run by another agency.
And when the terrorists started to use drug money to fund there operations then it involved all the drug agencies.
Which added to the confusion.
The "stovepiping" of intelligence often gives whoever is asking the quesitons the answers they want, not "just the facts". Add to that the problem of comparing information in another data base because you don't have the clearance, and you begin to get the picture. The fact that anything gets done in America is probably a major miracle.
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