The Washington Post’s investigation on Top Secret America contrasts sharply with the general information derived from the previous studies on the American Intelligence Community. The Post posits a situation of unaccountability, inefficiency, lack of transparency. Consequently it opens a Pandora’s Box on the discourse on the efficacy and sustainability of the American Intelligence Community. However, in some few exceptions, the report appears to concur with the position as gathered from previous studies on the Intelligence Community. This paper shall briefly run a comparison and contrast of the Post’s report and previous studies on the Intelligence Community and express some reservations of concern on the content of the Post’s report.
The Post recognizes the complexity of Top Secret America. The element of complexity concurs with the position of previous studies. For instance, in the Intelligence Community Overview to Congress, the introduction takes cognition of the agencies charged with various security functions. Some of these agencies include the Office of Director of National Intelligence, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations, among other bodies. The Post’s investigation appreciates the multidimensional approach which necessarily calls into play a number of agencies, government and private entities to work together. However, the Post opines that this complexity has exceeded reasonable limits and that the system has become so complex to the extent that it entertains redundancy and falls out of reasonable accountability and coordination. In fact, the Post goes further to report that 1,271 government organizations and 1,931 private companies in one way or another render services to the Top Secret. It reports that the complexity and plurality has occasioned massive efficiency and lack of accountability and transparency. It is on that premise that the Post surmises that the Top Secret has become a redundant movement supported by the United States of America.
While previous studies advance the concept that these multiple and interrelated institutions and agencies suffice for purposes of keeping America safe especially after the 9/11 attacks, the Post advances the position that the Top Secret lacks focus and coordination and ought to be streamlined in order to achieve the original goals that facilitated and motivated its creation. To back up this argument, the Post adduces the fact of the thirteen deaths in the Fort Hood as evidence indicating the inefficiency and failure of the Top Secret. In addition, the Post reports a number of interviews it had with responsible office holders to prove the lack of focus and efficiency in the system. For instance, Robert Gates, the Secretary of Defence at the time of the investigation admits that the Top Secret has grown to the extent that it compromises management due to its complexity. In addition, CIA Director, Leon Panetta acknowledges the fact that the system would be unsustainable and recommends for adjustments to make the system sustainable.
This paper contends that the Top Secret, Washington Post’s investigation is an accurate representation to the public of the American Intelligence Community. Indeed, the system has become so complex and unaccountable to the extent that its efficiency and utility can no longer be gauged accurately. It is on that premise that a reconstruction of the system as intimated by the then Secretary for Defence is necessary. However, in the same vein, the Post ought to appreciate the sensitivity in matters concerning intelligence and national security at large. It must, therefore, give the Top Secret the benefit of doubt that the steps adopted and programs implemented are for the overall good of the American national interests. It must cognize the fact that accountability can be compromised in the protection of a more essential concern otherwise known as national security.
Bibliography
Office of Director of National Intelligence. (2009). An Overview of the United States Intelligence Community for the 111th Congress. Washington: Office of Director of National Intelligence.
Priest , D., & Arkin, W. (2010). Top Secret America: A Washington Post Investigation. Washington Post. Retrieved from http://projects.washingtonpost.com/top-secret-america/articles/a-hidden-world-growing-beyond-control/1/
