NCJ Number
212332
Date Published
2005
Length
33 pages
Annotation
After presenting the 9-11 Commission's recommendations for restructuring the management of national security intelligence, this chapter provides the texts of executive orders issued in response to the 9-11 Commission Report and summarizes legislation designed to implement the Commission's recommendations.
Abstract
The 9-11 Commission concluded that the United States has the resources and the people necessary for an effective enterprise of national security intelligence; however, they should be combined more effectively to achieve unity of effort. Five recommendations are offered to achieve this. First, unify strategic intelligence and operational planning against Islamist terrorists across the foreign-domestic divide through a National Counterterrorism Center. Second, unify the intelligence community under the office of a new National Intelligence Director. Third, unify the efforts and the knowledge of the many participants in the counterterrorism effort under a network-based information-sharing system that transcends traditional governmental boundaries. Fourth, unify and strengthen congressional oversight to improve quality and accountability. Fifth, strengthen the FBI and homeland defenders. The three executive orders provided--numbers 13354, 13355, and 13356--were issued on August 27, 2004. They pertain to the creation and functions of the recommended National Counterterrorism Center, the strengthening of the management of the intelligence community, and the strengthening of the sharing of terrorism information among appropriate agencies. The legislation introduced to implement the 9-11 Commission's recommendations include H.R.5024, H.R.5040, S.2774, and S.AMDT.3631 to H.R.4567. Among the provisions of these bills are the creation of a position of National Intelligence Director in charge of a new National Counterterrorism Center and the allocation of formula-based grants to State and local governments based on an assessment of threats and vulnerabilities and other factors considered appropriate by the Secretary of Homeland Security. 22 notes and discussion questions