Monday, July 19, saw the release of an investigative report by The Washington Post which concerns the health of the intelligence services of the US Government. . The findings of the report are already being contested by big players in the intelligence field. Among Top Secret America’s many claims is the Intelligence Community, first receives the status of a proper noun and second is becoming rapidly disconnected, petty, inefficient and ineffective.
Top Secret America does not paint a flattering picture
The Washington Post investigation into the report Top Secret America was two years in the making. Since September of 2001, the number of agencies, bureaus, and contracting for intelligence work has grown explosively. The nature of the work also requires that the total cost and activities will never be known. The report also questions the intelligence business and it is ability to create a consensus, focus on objectives, or even cooperate among themselves. Part of the piece is an interview with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who disdains the obstructive nature of the intelligence field in this manner.
Intelligence Community responds
There was a response from the intelligence business almost quickly. David Gompert, Director of Intelligence, issued a press release in which he stated that the report was not reflective of the Intelligence Community as a whole, and the intelligence field was continuously working on improving itself.
What effect the report could have
It is hard to tell what effect the report can have. The nature of the intelligence business is that it is clandestine. A truly successful spy operation may never be known. There have, of course, been some embarrassing, miserable, almost tragically comic failures . For instance, there was the Bay of Pigs fiasco, and also the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Last year, the Christmas bomber almost succeeded, and authorities had been tipped off about him. The Fort Hood shooter was in contact with hostile Muslim groups for months, and he was a Major in the US Army. Despite the public failures, some public successes would maybe restore many faith within the system.
Find more info on this topic
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/top-secret-america/
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/top-secret-america/ (PDF)
