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October 03, 2005

Suggestions for Congressional committee members

Thomas Raleigh, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, writes to the Dallas Star Telegram:

The recent Able Danger hearings ought to have resulted in a clearer understanding of what happened to a small but valuable intelligence program that went horribly wrong. By obstructing this investigation, in a manner that was as deliberate as it was clumsy, Rumsfeld undermines public confidence in him and his department.

There will be more hearings on Able Danger -- you can count on it. In light of recent reports that the Pentagon may be expanding intelligence operations that deliberately seek to evade congressional oversight, at the next hearing, the first series of questions Congress ought to pose might go something like this:

"Mr. Secretary, we have learned that it was Army lawyers who prevented Able Danger officers from meeting with FBI officials. It is my understanding that military lawyers provide commanders with advice, but operational decisions and directives remain the purview of commanders. What were the lines of command and control of Able Danger? What commander issued the order that prevented Able Danger personnel from meeting with the FBI? Who runs our intelligence programs; risk-adverse lawyers and intelligence bureaucrats, or warfighting commanders?

"Your former deputy Douglas Feith manipulated and distorted pre-war intelligence on Iraq. Then there was 'Curveball'; now Able Danger. That is a lousy track record. Could you please tell this committee, and the American people, why we should continue to entrust the Pentagon to run over 80 percent of this country's intelligence programs?"

Posted by Mike at October 3, 2005 08:42 PM

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