Intelligence Reform

With the resignation of George Tenet as director of U.S. central intelligence and the 9/11 Commission report inciting debate about intelligence reform in the United States, FP dips into its archive for a look at this issue through the years.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2004

"'[N]ational intelligence estimates’ are a composite of judgments of the CIA, the [Defense Intelligence Agency], the [State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research], and the service intelligence agencies. Compromises among these perspectives often lead to estimates that reflect an exaggerated, military-oriented view of the threat."

-- Peter Szanton and Graham Allison "Intelligence: Seizing the Opportunity" (Spring 1976)

"The pressures that lead to politicization are felt precisely when the policy stakes are highest. Thus, one of the most egregious cases of slanted analysis occurred at the culmination of the debate within the Reagan administration over whether to trade arms for hostages with Iran."

-- Marvin Ott "Shaking Up the CIA" (Winter 1993-94)

"[I]t is unreasonable to expect 100 percent success. Thus, while intelligence is the first line of defense, other counter-terrorism efforts are also important, including prevention by deterrence or interdiction, bioweapons defense, and managing the consequences of a catastrophic terrorist attack whenever and wherever it occurs."

-- Jeffrey H. Smith and John Deutch "Smarter Intelligence" (January/February 2002)