Report: Size of US Intelligence Hurts Effectiveness
VOA News 19 July 2010
A top American newspaper says U.S. intelligence gathering has become so massive since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that some agencies are doing the same work, and that many intelligence reports are routinely ignored.
The report by the Washington Postcites government documents, as well as current and former intelligence officials. Most of those officials requested anonymity.
A two-year investigation by the Post found that some 1,271 government organizations and 1,931 private companies involved in counterterrorism and intelligence do the same work. The paper says no one knows how much money is being wasted in those efforts.
The Post says a lack of focus, not resources, is jeopardizing the ability to protect Americans.
The acting Director of National Intelligence, David Gompert, said the Post report does not accurately reflect the intelligence community. He said attacks are being thwarted and successes achieved every day.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he does not believe U.S. intelligence gathering is too large. But he told the Post it is a challenge to "get your arms around that."
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