Intelligence Reform as a Self-Inflicted Wound: Asking the Right Questions

With all deference, the 9/11 Commission, Senator Roberts, and the others rushing towards intelligence reform often seem to be providing answers before they ask the right questions. It is always tempting to rush to judgment, but far too much of the analysis done by the Commission and various Congressional Committees avoids hard political questions, lacks intellectual honesty, and does not address the issues in anything approaching the required depth.

Bad analysis means bad legislation. Many recommendations and draft bills seem designed to solve the organization chart and not the problem. As a result, many proposed reforms will at best do little good and some could do serious harm.