The 2004 irtpa represents the greatest restructuring of the intelligence. Many critics argue that the catastrophic attacks against u. Some suggested that on 911 the intelligence community was still operating in a. Whether this is the extent of the reform or whether a fuller reform is possible is the open question. Bushs moderate support for intelligence reform set an important precedent. Today, we will report on the intelligence communitys knowledge, prior to september 11, 2001, of the september 11 hijackers, particularly three of. Intelligence communitys record in regard to the 911 attacks and make. To appreciate the challenges presented to the intelligence community, one must go beyond those enumerated by the 911 commission and recognize that the homeland security problems of the intelligence.
In case of a counter attack, the intelligence community has to come up with a way of sharing collected sensitive information. Before september 11, 2001, the intelligence community had acquired significant information regarding almihdhar and nawaf alhazmi. The 911 commission clearly favored structural changes toward greater centralization of the community. Document number ciardp8400933r00030003004 declassified and released through the cias crest database. Memorandums for the record mfr during its investigation, the commission staff conducted over 1200 factfinding interviews the mfrs are summaries of these interviews. The combination of an overwhelming number of priorities, flat budgets, an outmoded structure, and bureaucratic rivalries resulted in an insufficient response to this new challenge. Pundits, scholars, commentators and others quickly labeled 911 an intelligence failure. Front office files the front office consisted of philip zelikow, executive director. Government, vast reforms were identified to ensure that an attack of this magnitude never happened again. The intelligence community knew of but did not fully understand the importance of a key leader in usama bin ladins terrorist organization who may have been instrumental in the september 11 attacks.
On the other hand, great offense was taken when a briefing book. View this essay on us intelligence community after 9 11. Intelligence gathering post 911 article pdf available in american psychologist 666. A panel discussion on the intelligence community with former cia director r. Most of us remember where we were when we learned of the attacks, although our memories of the event and of our feelings that day may not be as accurate as we suspect hirst.
Importance of human intelligence humint in the post911. Joint inquiry into intelligence community activities before and after the terrorist attacks of. Post 911 intelligence reforms led to significant organizational change. The us government shut down a series of court cases arising from a multimillion pound business dispute in order to conceal evidence of a damning intelligence failure shortly before the 911. Jul 17, 2004 the final report of the commission investigating the sept. The intelligence community struggled throughout the 1990s and up to 911 to collect intelligence on and analyze the phenomenon of transnational terrorism. Although in todays world we can never be 100 percent.
Due to the remarkable coordination of intelligence services around the world. The sorrow, loss, anger, and resolve so evident immediately following the september 11, 2001, attacks have been combined in an effort to help assure that our country will never again be caught unprepared. The book has enjoyed considerable commercial success in germany, where it is published by piper verlag, and has. Proposals for intelligence reorganization, 19492004. This act established the central intelligence agency cia, unified. The 911 commissions look into the link between saudi officials and the al qaeda hijackers is finally here. Final post 911 intelligence reform impact and the way ahead daniel ratner intl 444 professor mead october 8, 2012 introduction after 911, an event so shocking, and humiliating to both the american people, and the u. Joint inquiry into intelligence community activities before and after the terrorist attacks of september 11, 2001 page count. Intelligence community has been drastically restructured since 911, in an effort to prevent future terrorist attacks, specifically concentrating on interdepartment information sharing. The 911 attacks on the world trade center and the pentagon were far more elaborate,precise,and destructive than any of these earlier assaults. The intelligence community initially acquired some information about salim alhazmis identity and association with the other two, but nothing further until after september 11, 2001. Joint inquiry into intelligence community activities before and after the.
Although the central intelligence agency cia is the best known member of. Apr 06, 2020 the creation and responsibilities of new intelligence components in the department of defense, department of homeland security, department of the treasury, and drug enforcement administration. Otis considers how safety in america has changed after 16 years at war in afghanistan. With this change, the director of central intelligence and the. Proposals for intelligence reorganization, 19492004 introduction the national security act of 1947 p. His death shows outstanding work of the intelligence community. Intelligence community with respect to 911 and estimating the state of iraqi weapons of mass destruction programs. Intelligence reorganization and reform since 911 have resulted in numerous changes. One of the most significant changes was the institution of the office of the director of national intelligence odni. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
In other words, it is intelligence that informs the manner by which a country defends itself and in the manner by which administrative frameworks for governance and risk mitigation is set out to preserve the peace of the nation, to allow for the continuation of a way of life. Cia history staff, cia center for the study of intelligence, 2001, from the historical perspective by dr. It can be accessed via login or by signing up to become a cipher brief member. Proceedings of the 2008 center for homeland defense and security annual conference james burch abstract. Proposals for restructuring the intelligence community by creating a dni had been. There has to be a creation of a common communication system for firefighters, police, and emergency personnel to ensure disaster preparedness. Previously available only on four computers located outside of washington d. Us acted to conceal evidence of intelligence failure.
This work intends to be an assessment of the results of the irtpa on analysis, ten years after the. As the 911 commission notes, we are safer today but we are not safe, and much work remains. What a great and inexpensive way to feed your need to know. Fbi the state of intelligence reform 10 years after 911. Memorandums for the record mfr during its investigation, the commission staff conducted over 1200 factfinding interviewsthe mfrs are summaries of these interviews. Intelligence and surprise attackfailure and successes. This was the largest reorganization the ic saw since the national security act of 1948. Ten years later roxane cohen silver university of california, irvine a decade has passed since the terrorist attacks of september 11, 2001. Some suggested that on 911 the intelligence community was still operating in a cold war mindset with too. These changes and the emphasis on information sharing. Edited by barbara eliassanborn with thanks to archive senior fellow jeffrey t.
The final report of the commission investigating the sept. The post911 intelligence community intelligence reform. This document concerns the presidents declaration of a national emergency in response to the unusual and extraordinary threat posed to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the united states by grave acts of terrorism and threats of terrorism committed by foreign terrorists, including the september 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the world trade. The united states intelligence community ic saw massive organizational changes after the attack on 911. Aug 03, 2004 the sorrow, loss, anger, and resolve so evident immediately following the september 11, 2001, attacks have been combined in an effort to help assure that our country will never again be caught unprepared. The september 11 th terrorist attacks was a shock heard around the world and immediately became an eye opening experience for the u. The current situation despite the deep reforms of the u. Since 911, the fbi has more than doubled the number of agents and analysts assigned to its national security mission from 3,537 2,514 agents1,023 analysts to 7,933 4,815 agents3,118 analysts. September 11 and the imperative of reform in the u.
Us intelligence community after 9 11 essay 956 words. National commission on terrorist attacks upon the united states. The creation and responsibilities of new intelligence components in the department of defense, department of homeland security, department of the treasury, and drug enforcement administration. Intelligence and surprise attackfailure and successes from pearl harbor to 911 and beyond. Although in todays world we can never be 100 percent secure, and we can never do everything. Crisis and compromise in american intelligence after 911 is truly a unique book that provides a legislative history of the period after the 911 commission published. Intelligence, in the military context, is what you have after you combine a.
Week 2 forum the united states intelligence communityic. Reforming the us intelligence community jmu scholarly commons. Clearly, if the american intelligence budget was increased by an arbitrary amount, an intelligence operative was directly inside mohammedattas terrorist cell, or air marshals had been introduced prior, 911 would have been eminently preventable. Intelligence and surprise attackfailure and successes from. But by september 2001, the executive branch of the u. The intelligence communitys knowledge of the sept 11.
Apr, 2017 the 911 commissions look into the link between saudi officials and the al qaeda hijackers is finally here. Dec 22, 2017 intelligence and surprise attackfailure and successes from pearl harbor to 911 and beyond. Although the central intelligence agency cia is the best known member of the intelligence community, the bulk of the nations intelligence effort is undertaken by the intelligence agencies of the department of defense dod. James woolsey, brookings institution senior fellow michael ohanlon, and ceo of the intelligence and security academy. The book suggests that no plane crashed into the pentagon and none in pennsylvania on 911, and that the alleged mobile phone calls on united airlines flight 93 were not real. Post 911 intelligence reform impact and the way ahead. Following the september 11th terrorist attacks, which instantly transformed the u. The reality of the homeland security enterprise information sharing. From an intelligence perspective, was 911 avoidable. House permanent select committee on intelligence file type. Declassified 28 pages from congressional 911 investigation.
In particular, the national security agency nsa, the national reconnaissance office nro, and the national geospatial intelligence agency nga are major collectors. National commission on terrorist attacks upon the united. The inability to connect the dots led to significant debates to improving intelligence. The chairman of the house permanent select committee on intelligence and a former cia officer, porter goss rfl. The central intelligence agencys 911 file top secret cia documents on osama bin laden declassified national security archive electronic briefing book no. Joint inquiry into intelligence community activities before and after the terrorist attacks of september 11, 2001, the full.