DATE=6/2/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233234
TITLE=INTELLIGENCE FAILURE REPORT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A NEW REPORT SAYS AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE FAILED TO PREDICT
INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS BECAUSE THEY WERE DISORGANIZED AND THEY DID
MISUNDERSTOOD INDIA. BUT V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS, SOME
CRITICS SAYS THE STUDY ISN'T CRITICAL ENOUGH.
TEXT: RETIRED ADMIRAL DAVID JEREMIAH HEADED THE PANEL
INVESTIGATING THE INTELLIGENCE FAILURES ON INDIA. HE SAYS U-S
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES DID NOT PREDICT INDIAN NUCLEAR TESTS
BECAUSE THEY ASSUMED THINGS WORK IN INDIA MUCH AS THEY DO IN
AMERICA.
/// JEREMIAH ACT ///
FIRST OF ALL, WE HAD A MIND SET THAT SAID EVERYBODY ELSE
IS GOING TO WORK LIKE WE WORK. WHY WOULD ANYONE THROW
AWAY THE ECONOMIC ADVANTAGES THAT THEY WOULD LOSE WITH
TESTING? WHY WOULD THEY HAZARD ALL THAT STUFF, WHEN
THERE IS NO REASON TO DO THAT? WE DON'T THINK LIKE THE
OTHER NATION THINKS. WHAT DRIVES THEM? WHAT ARE THEIR
NATIONAL SECURITY REQUIREMENTS. WHAT DOES THEIR NATIONAL
PRIDE DRIVE THEM TO DO?
/// END ACT ///
ADMIRAL JEREMIAH SAYS THE INDIAN TESTS CAME AT A TIME WHEN THERE
WERE TENSIONS IN MANY AREAS OF THE WORLD. ALL WERE "CLAMORING
FOR ATTENTION" FROM U-S SATELLITES AND SPIES AND THE PEOPLE WHO
INTERPRET THE INFORMATION THEY COLLECT.
THE ADMIRAL URGES INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES TO DO A BETTER JOB OF
PUTTING RESOURCES WHERE THEY ARE MOST NEEDED. HE SAYS THEY MUST
ALSO GET AGENCY EXPERTS TO SHARE INFORMATION MORE EFFECTIVELY,
AND TALK TO MORE EXPERTS OUTSIDE THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.
ADMIRAL JEREMIAH DELIVERED HIS REPORT TO A CLOSED MEETING OF THE
SENATE COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN RICHARD SHELBY SAYS THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
AGENCY AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE GOT TO DO BETTER.
/// SHELBY ACT ///
SOMEBODY DIDN'T PUT THE EMPHASIS ON THE (INDIAN)
SUBCONTINENT AFTER THE RULING PARTY, THE NATIONALIST
PARTY CAME TO POWER AND TELEGRAPHED THAT (MADE ITS
INTENTION TO TEST VERY CLEAR). THERE ARE SOME FAILURES
ALL ALONG. I THINK SOME OF THEM ARE POLICY. BUT
ULTIMATELY IT IS UP TO THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY TO PUT
IT TOGETHER.
/// END ACT ///
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY DIRECTOR GEORGE TENET SAYS HE WILL
MOVE QUICKLY TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES SUGGESTED IN THE JEREMIAH
REPORT. BUT WHILE THE SPY CHIEF SAYS THERE ARE LESSONS TO BE
LEARNED FROM THIS FAILURE -- NO ONE WILL BE FIRED FOR THE
MISTAKES.
/// REST OPT ///
BUT FOREIGN POLICY EXPERT ARNAUD (PRONO: ARNO) DE BORCHGRAVE OF
THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES IN WASHINGTON,
SAYS THIS IS MORE THAN JUST AN INTELLIGENCE FAILURE -- IT IS AN
EMBARRASSMENT. HE SAYS ACTIVITIES BY INDIA'S NEIGHBORS CHINA,
PAKISTAN AND IRAN CONCERNED INDIAN LEADERS, AND PROMPTED THEM TO
MOVE TOWARD WEAPONS TESTS. HE SAYS THESE CONCERNS SHOULD HAVE
BEEN OBVIOUS TO AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE. (SIGNED).
NEB/JR/WDC/JO
02-Jun-98 7:02 PM EDT (2302 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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