Tuesday, August 21, 2007
MICRO ROUND-UP ON THE CIA'S IG REPORT
Here's the news story.
The SWJ Blog links to the IG Report executive summary. (PDF)
Here are a few reactions ( originally, I planned a wide spectrum of blogospheric opinion but found too much of it to be simpleminded, partisan, blather, so I stuck with the available informed commentary):
Haft of the Spear:
"They are basically saying that not only were parts of the system broken, anyone with half a wit should have been able to see that and take action (or at least raise an alarm). That no one bothered says that either leadership was not all it was cracked up to be, or that the way the system treats squeaky wheels is such that no one - witless or not - thought raising a stink was worth the risk. Stupidity and fear, fortunately, are not excuses."
Sic Semper Tyrannis:
" The CIA like the DIA failed miserably to penetrate the apparatus of the takfiri jihadi networks. Such penetrations would have enabled the US to anticipate coming jihadi actions.
Once again it will be said that penetrating these groups is "too hard to do." Rubbish. I know better. Why were these groups not penetrated?
Timidity. Fear of Risks, Bureaucratic inertia. Poor leadership at the top in all the significant organizations. Has anything changed? I doubt it. If it had, bin Laden would be dead by now."
When a system is fundamentally broken you do not need to simply look for loose bolts or missing parts or even a new mechanic ( though firing an old one might be a useful message to send to their replacement) - what you do is find some engineers and a drawing board.
Here's the news story.
The SWJ Blog links to the IG Report executive summary. (PDF)
Here are a few reactions ( originally, I planned a wide spectrum of blogospheric opinion but found too much of it to be simpleminded, partisan, blather, so I stuck with the available informed commentary):
Haft of the Spear:
"They are basically saying that not only were parts of the system broken, anyone with half a wit should have been able to see that and take action (or at least raise an alarm). That no one bothered says that either leadership was not all it was cracked up to be, or that the way the system treats squeaky wheels is such that no one - witless or not - thought raising a stink was worth the risk. Stupidity and fear, fortunately, are not excuses."
Sic Semper Tyrannis:
" The CIA like the DIA failed miserably to penetrate the apparatus of the takfiri jihadi networks. Such penetrations would have enabled the US to anticipate coming jihadi actions.
Once again it will be said that penetrating these groups is "too hard to do." Rubbish. I know better. Why were these groups not penetrated?
Timidity. Fear of Risks, Bureaucratic inertia. Poor leadership at the top in all the significant organizations. Has anything changed? I doubt it. If it had, bin Laden would be dead by now."
When a system is fundamentally broken you do not need to simply look for loose bolts or missing parts or even a new mechanic ( though firing an old one might be a useful message to send to their replacement) - what you do is find some engineers and a drawing board.
Labels: al qaida, CIA, defense, foreign policy, IC, intelligence, national security, terrorism
¶ 8:19 PM
Comments:
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I'm not sure how kind history will be to President Bush with regards to Iraq. However, I don't think his lack of leadership of the intelligence community as well as the complete failure to develop an energy policy will be seen as anything but a disaster. That being said, why have we had no significant attacks in the U.S. since 9/11? Is al Qaeda that broken or is the intelligence community actually more effective than we think?
Barnabus
Barnabus
# posted by 
: Thursday, 23 August, 2007
: Thursday, 23 August, 2007
I suspect al Qaeda is scattered and so lacks the means to build another significant attack on US soil. I suspect (or hypothesize) that any attacks in the US will be small scale (yet incredibly disruptive) events planned and carried out by sympathetic "subsidiary" groups. The Fort Dix Six comes to mind.
I think al Qaeda has put the ideology and the fuel out there to an extent that they do not have to maintain a direct involvement in future attacks here in the US.
Consider Musab al Zarqawi who embraced the ideology of al Qaeda as opposed to being enlisted by al Qaeda. I expect similar events here in the US as the leadership of al Qaeda are likely focused on staying free and alive.
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I think al Qaeda has put the ideology and the fuel out there to an extent that they do not have to maintain a direct involvement in future attacks here in the US.
Consider Musab al Zarqawi who embraced the ideology of al Qaeda as opposed to being enlisted by al Qaeda. I expect similar events here in the US as the leadership of al Qaeda are likely focused on staying free and alive.
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