BLOGGER TEMPLATES Memes

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

More money, more hires, better intelligence? Maybe not.

Source

Now we all know the communications between the different intelligence branches was an utter failure pre-911.

All the intelligence community really needs right now is another group of players in the game pulling on the informational pipeline that is our national security.

Recently, the Directorate of National Intelligence or DNI, the newest Men In Black, have opened a office to deal with state and local law enforcement.

This newest agency in charge of Domestic Intelligence is headed by Micheal Tiffany, former NYPD Chief of Intelligence.

"It took me a half dozen e-mails and telephone calls over three days to just to confirm that yes, the Directorate of National Intelligence, or DNI, the new-ish uber-spooks body has opened an office to deal with state and local law enforcement."


So we have three agencies fighting over who is "the champ".

It's a "three-way battle," says an intelligence expert with intimate knowledge of the federal intelligence agencies involved, as well as with the thinking of state and local police.

"I detect a new tension," says this person, whose views are shared by multiple congressional sources, "between the information sharing office at DNI, which has the responsibility for policy development and implementation, and...the intelligence shop of DHS."

"So once again we have these new offices, new bureaus and new legislation, but also new layers. And they're still kind of wondering, out in the homeland, who the hell's in charge of what and who's telling us what and when and are we speaking with one voice?"


And now a fourth enters the rumble between different agencies, and you're invited for front row seats.

Charlie Allen, the legendary CIA man who quietly arrived at DHS last summer and got himself the new title of Chief Intelligence Officer, has no illusions about how hard it is to wrest control of the homeland security information flow that the FBI and CIA have appropriated for themselves. And now comes another threat from DNI.


And finally, Rep. Mike Rogers sees the infighting and posturing within our intel community.

Rep. Mike Rogers, a Michigan Republican and bulky former FBI agent, does a good Brian Dennehy when he gets worked up about intelligence.

Rogers is a fan of Allen but skeptical about the proliferation of U.S. intelligence agencies and personnel, which he derides as "a battle of the in-boxes."

"My only fear is that Allen wants to get bigger," said Rogers, fidgeting in his chair during a recent interview in his office.

"I am disappointed in where DNI is going," Rogers continued. "I have yet to see value added to what they a’re doing."

He bemoans the hundreds of new intelligence bureaucrats at the DNI and elsewhere. "Did they add any case agents, operations overseas?" he asked. "I don't see how they are helping catch one terrorist."


I guess all we can say is "meet the new boss, same as the old boss". The more things change with those currently running the show on the hill, the more they same the same.

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