Democrat Intelligence Committee KNEW of Intelligence Deficiencies

Senate Select Intelligence Committee | May 17, 2002 based on September, 2001 | Dixie Mom

[Miss Marple]

I am posting this information from a reply posted by Dixie Mom on the "America the Right Way" thread. This information deserves a separate post, and is, I believe, very important. What follows is her independent and original research:

1) The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence press release regarding the 2002 budget. (note the date)

http://intelligence.senate.gov/010906.htm

SEPTEMBER 6, 2001 PHONE: (202) 224-1700

SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZES INTELLIGENCE SPENDING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2002

Washington, D.C. – The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) today unanimously approved the Intelligence Authorization Bill for Fiscal Year 2002. The bill authorizes funding for intelligence activities and programs and contains legislative provisions related to intelligence.

The bill reflects the Committee's attention to four priority areas to enhance the role of intelligence in our national security strategy: (1) revitalization of the National Security Agency (NSA); (2) correcting deficiencies in human intelligence; (3) addressing the imbalance between intelligence collection and analysis; and (4) rebuilding a robust research and development program for the Intelligence Community. The budget approved by the Committee today reflects an emphasis on these priority areas.

Chairman Graham said, "The funding increase for intelligence contained in this bill represents what must be the first installment of a multi-year effort to correct serious deficiencies that have developed over the past decade in the Intelligence Community. While the end of the Cold War warranted a reordering of national priorities, the continued decline in funding has left us with a diminished ability to address the emerging threats and technological challenges of the 21st Century. The Intelligence Community is our nation's vital early warning system and we must support its mission to the fullest extent possible."Vice Chairman Shelby stated, "I am pleased that the Committee unanimously supported the President's request for intelligence spending. There is no question we must place our ability to collect intelligence around the world at the very top of our national security priorities. I believe that this legislation continues this Committee's commitment to improving our ability to detect and defeat threats to our people and interests at home and abroad. [snip]

2) Senator Rockefeller (a freshman member of the Intelligence Committee, I believe) made the following comment on the Senate floor post-9/11:

http://rockefeller.senate.gov/2001/flrstmt092101.html

Our dread might even turn to despondency if we consider the agonizing possibility that our law enforcement and intelligence establishments might have been able to prevent the horror of last Tuesday if they had adequate mechanisms with which to collaborate on strategy, share information, and assist in investigation and apprehension of men capable of these heinous crimes.

Dixie Mom then comments:

"Perhaps some alert FReeper has already pointed these things out, but, if so, I haven't seen them.

Hope this helps, and keep up the good work, everyone! "

[McLynnan]

Thank you for all your research. Now I'm off on another email campaign demanding answers.

[tillacum]

That has always bothered me......no one seemed interested enough to investigate......he just got a free pass. If we had done something like that, we'd be in jail so fast.......

[Dixie Mom]

And why, I would like to know, did Louis Freeh resign from his position just weeks before 9-11? Why is that man not being held accountable for what happened?

W is now taking the rap for the FBI not being able to put this all together before 9-11. It would have required someone at the FBI putting all the pieces together and no one did that! This information did not even make it past the mid-level analyst level. The FBI failed to inform the President. How did he slip off the radar?

The FBI and the CIA both must be reformed. They have failed this country miserably.

All excellent points. In fact, it seems as though there was an active effort to begin to reconcile and manage all the various intelligence information. Too little, too late though, because of the neglect of the previous administration.

[Dixie Mom]

You're welcome--happy to have helped. :)

[Aggie Mama]

I read your report last night and was extremely impressed. =) I've been to damn angry to post anything about this whole issue. I've been screaming at the television all day and most of yesterday. I think this will blow up in the dems faces, but in the meantime, I'm going to need some bloodpressure medicine to keep me from having a stroke.

[nutmeg]

bump

[JohnHuang2]

King John MEGA-PING!

No, I'm letting this 'King' stuff go to my head...hehe

[MistyCA]

Thank you for pinging me to this John! :)

[JohnHuang2]

My pleasure *smiles*

[Miss Marple]

Thanks John! I think Dixie Mom did a valuable service with her research, and it is important that this information be seen by as many people as possible.

[philman_36]

A flower for you ladies...watch out for the thorns, which appear to be numerous, in the article.
Anti-Terror Alliance
In 1998, for instance, the Justice Department and the FBI created an intra-agency National Defense Preparedness Office to coordinate government efforts to prepare for terrorist incidents involving weapons of mass destruction.
Snip...Meanwhile, the FBI’s focus on counterintelligence and counterterrorism operations has led to an almost fivefold increase in FBI intelligence officers in the past eight years, from 224 in 1992 to more than 1,000 today. A corresponding but classified increase has been made in FBI field agents, who have been assigned to fighting spies and terrorists, according to a Syracuse University research center report. In 2001, the government is slated to spend $11.4 billion to combat terrorism and protect critical infrastructure, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank.
Snip...The CI-21 initiative addresses that issue by creating a National Counterintelligence Executive with independent resources and a staff to act as the leader of antiterrorist activities and serve as a conduit between policy-makers, lawmakers and private industry on the one hand, and the intelligence, law enforcement and defense communities on the other. This czar will be appointed by, and answer to, a National Counterintelligence Board of Directors consisting of the FBI director, the deputy director of the CIA, the deputy secretary of Defense and a senior official from the Justice Department.

[philman_36]

Supporting stuff...Anti-terror alliance

[Miss Marple]

Could you tell me what your point is? I know there has been an effort in the agencies for counter-terrorism for some time.

[philman_36]

Presidential Decision Directive (PDD) 'U.S. Counterintelligence Effectiveness -- Counterintelligence for the 21st Century.'

[philman_36]

Could you tell me what your point is?
Never mind. Excuse me for trying to lend a hand.

[Miss Marple]

I am sorry, I wasn't trying to be critical. I just don't understand the implications of what you are posting. I realize it may mean I need more coffee, but I am a little clueless this morning.

If the point is that there was a counter-terror group formed under Clinton's watch, I think that was well known. Implementing their suggestions is another matter, however.

At any rate, I am hoping you will explain the significance of your research, as it would help me understand. Thanks!

[philman_36]

From the main article...While the end of the Cold War warranted a reordering of national priorities, the continued decline in funding has left us with a diminished ability to address the emerging threats and technological challenges of the 21st Century. The Intelligence Community is our nation's vital early warning system and we must support its mission to the fullest extent possible.
PPD and CI-21. It's in the articles, I was just trying to give you what was between the lines and where it all stemed from. Again, sorry to have bothered.
I don't call $11.4 billion to combat terrorism and protect critical infrastructure a "continued decline in funding" either.

[Miss Marple]

That decline is based on previous expenditures. I also don't know what the Clinton administration considered "critical infrastructure." It might have been all those pirated vidoes that the FBI and CIA were targeted to stop. That was one of their priorities, at White House directive, back in the Clinton years.

[philman_36]

National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC)
Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office (CIAO)
I hope those sites help you.

[philman_36]

PPD 63
Critical infrastructures are those physical and cyber-based systems essential to the minimum operations of the economy and government. They include, but are not limited to, telecommunications, energy, banking and finance, transportation, water systems and emergency services, both governmental and private.