WP, Pincus: Intelligence Panel's Findings Criticized

[DeepModem Mom]

Intelligence Panel's Findings Criticized
Experts Call Suggestions Uninformed

By Walter Pincus
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 31, 2005; Page A17


Some of the recommendations to be officially presented today by President Bush's commission on intelligence were already drawing criticism yesterday inside and outside the intelligence community.

One proposal being questioned calls for restructuring the FBI's counterterrorism and counterintelligence operations and analysis under one director, and having that individual report both to the new director of national intelligence as well as to the FBI director.

Kate Martin of the Center for National Security Studies, who had been briefed by FBI sources on the proposal, said that giving the DNI, whose prime concern is foreign intelligence, a role in domestic counterterrorism operations could create civil liberties issues....

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The FBI has over the past two years sharply increased its counterterrorism operations and created a directorate of intelligence that does analysis across the spectrum of bureau activities. One FBI official who reviewed the commission proposal said yesterday he was concerned that creating a new structure would be a problem. "Let the current process work itself out," he said.

Several current and former intelligence officials, who had access to part or all of the report, praised many of its findings and recommendations but said the panel at times ignored changes instituted since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. They also criticized the commission for failing to take into consideration complexities of the intelligence business....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14104-2005Mar30.html