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Strengthening our nation’s front line of defense

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12.18.2009 at 02:33pm

Strengthening our nation’s front line of defense – Dennis C. Blair, Washington Post opinion.

The legislation authorizing post-Sept. 11 intelligence reform — the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 — was signed into law five years ago this week. We are often asked whether the new organizations, authorities and additional resources have made a difference. The answer is yes.

To be clear, the task of reinventing our intelligence structure and integrating the capabilities, cultures and information technologies of 16 diverse intelligence agencies is massive, and it is incomplete. Problems persist in our technologies, business practices and mind-sets. I have no illusions about how challenging they will be to overcome. But there is an ocean of difference between difficult and impossible.

While many successes must remain classified, there are things the public can and should know about changes that have been made and how we are directing our efforts and America’s resources…

More at The Washington Post.

Dennis C. Blair is the third and current Director of National Intelligence and a retired United States Navy four-star admiral.

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