Overhauling Intelligence.

• Author: Handley, John

www.foreignaffairs.org/20070701faessay86404/mike-mcconnell/overhauling-intelligence.html

By Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell

Mike McConnell described earlier intelligence community reforms as an unfortunate response to the post-Cold War "peace dividend" by reducing intelligence staffing by 22% between 1989 and 2001. He credits the 2004 Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act and, subsequently, the 9/11 Commission and the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission with a helpful new emphasis on reform. As Director of National Intelligence (DNI), he has two further aims: addressing the peculiar cultures, such as "stove-piping," within the sixteen organizations reporting to him and "breaking down the walls" between the intelligence and law enforcement communities.

In order to improve interagency collaboration, the DNI recommends following the Goldwater-Nichols model that created a unified military establishment. Collaboration must occur at two levels: intelligence collection and intelligence analysis. A new interagency joint-duty program--the Rapid Analytic Support and Expeditionary Response team--would employ analysts drawn from all intelligence agencies and facilitate a rapid reaction to crises. The DNI has also formed "devil's advocate"...