The U.S. National Security Complex
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-07-21/us-national-security-complex
The Washington Post spent two years investigating the national security and intelligence system created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The reporters behind the story on whether the security complex is too big, costs too much and makes Americans any safer.
Guests
Dana Priest
national intelligence reporter for The Washington Post and author of "The Mission: Waging War and Keeping Peace with America's Military."
William Arkin
national security reporter for The Washington Post.
John Negroponte
first director of national intelligence (2005-2007); deputy secretary of State under George W. Bush (2007-2009); currently vice chairman of McLarty Associates.
Comments
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This must be what President Eisenhower warned us about. I'll bet he never thought it would be anywhere near this bad.
Great show. Finding the balance of using private contractors that are much more efficient than some government agencies and government workers is the real challange for the intelligence leaders inthis country.
This story is so interesting. A few questions ;
How is the accountability and transparancy in all these agencies monitored?
and
How/who decides who investigates information received.
It sounds so chaotic and ineffiecient.
Many thanks to the authors for their work on this project.
It is no surprise that the 'intelligence' organizations, now a cottage industry, are largely ineffective. Too many people, agencies and a poorly defined mission. A quote from Frederick II comes to mind... 'He who defends everything defends nothing.
The news leads off with a high number of personnel with top secret access. I think this is misleading. Once above the rank of corporal in the Army everyone had top secret clearance. The approval for my clearance even missed multple arrest in my misgotton youth during the late 60's. I think the primary problem too many contractors, the same with security in war zones.
Diane and I are the same age, and I wonder whether she's asking herself the same question I'm asking:
None of this could have happened without Congress known and complying. Has Congress always been this feckless (and greedy) or -- over the past 50 years or so -- has it gotten worse?! In short, what the heck!
Many thanks to Arkin and Priest for a very impressive investigative series and to their designers for, well, a very impressive piece of design!
Wouldn't the addition of hundreds of thousands of people with top secret clearance exponentially increase the threat of spy infiltration? It seems like there would be so many additional access points to enter the intelligence stream.