Report: Intelligence weaknesses threaten U.S. security

May 18, 2000
Web posted at: 10:45 p.m. EDT (0245 GMT)

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From staff and wire reports

WASHINGTON -- The Clinton administration is "placing undue risks" on the U.S. armed forces and on national security by failing to address intelligence weaknesses, according to a report from the House intelligence committee.

The report blamed inadequate resources and funding for intelligence failures such as:

•  The lack of warning when India conducted nuclear tests.

MESSAGE BOARD National security    VIDEO National Security Correspondent David Ensor reports on the House Intelligence Committee's conclusion that the Clinton administration is "placing undue risks" on the armed forces and national security by failing to address intelligence weaknesses. Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K

•  The inability to monitor facilities suspected of producing chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.

•  The bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade during the NATO air war.

The Republican chairman of the House committee blamed the intelligence shortcomings on the White House.

"There is a leadership problem at the highest levels of the Clinton-Gore administration about focusing on the need for intelligence, making the commitment and the hard choices to put the dollars there," said Rep. Porter Goss, R-Florida.

In the area of human intelligence or spies, the report spoke of "poor planning" and "infrastructure problems".

Regarding spy satellites, the report said there is "totally inadequate" planning and investment and an "insufficient priority on developing cutting edge technologies".

"You just don't end up with a satellite up there that suddenly, magically gives you the kind of information you want to hear or see because you want it today. If you haven't planned for it about seven years ago, it probably isn't going to happen," said Goss.

High-tech equipment on the ground also got low marks from the committee.

"The January 'crash' of National Security Agency computers was not the result of a terrorist attack or hacker gamesmanship," the report said. Rather it was due to NSA's "lack of resources" and "mismanagement" of outdated technology. It also stated: "This should have come as a surprise to no one".

CIA spokesman Bill Harlow said: "We have been aggressively addressing some of these issues for quite some time and are proud of the progress and achievements made over the past several years in strengthening the human intelligence collection, all-source analysis and a wide variety of intelligence community programs."

Clinton Administration officials said that next year's budget for the CIA and other agencies contains billions more dollars than last year. The exact number is secret, although independent analysts put the total for next year at around $30 billion dollars.

Aides also noted that the president added a little extra money to that budget only one day ago.

"I'm adding over $300 million to fund critical programs to protect our citizens from terrorist threats, to expand our intelligence efforts," said Clinton on Wednesday.

Too little, too late, said the chairman.

"The fact that he is now aboard and announcing and saying, 'Gee we have a problem with terrorism,' is a big step forward -- even though it comes about four or five years late," Goss said.

The intelligence committee's report accompanied legislation to fund intelligence activities for fiscal year 2001.

The House bill increases funding for intelligence from spies and improving analysis of satellite imagery, Goss said. He hoped the full House would vote on the bill next week.

Differences between the House bill and Senate version must be ironed out before it goes to the president to sign into law.

Correspondent David Ensor and Reuters contributed to this report.

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