Intelligence

While in the Army, I served in the Military Intelligence Corps. There, I worked for the now maligned National Security Agency, the largest intelligence gathering organization in the U.S. My experience there has given me a unique perspective. There are many details which I'm not at liberty to discuss, so I can not provide supporting evidence, but here are my views on intelligence.
Intelligence gathering and analysis is extremely vital to our leaders who formulate national security policy. To effectively guard against a threat, it is important to know that the threat exists, its source and target, and its strengths and weaknesses. For the former, it is imperative that intelligence gatherers operate in all parts of the world, peaceful or not. A threat to our security can arise anywhere and the earlier it is known, the easier the remedy. To ensure access to intelligence in the more hostile areas, to which we have little or no diplomatic ties, it may be necessary to rely on allies for intelligence, at least to some extent. As such, it is also very important that we forge and strengthen good relationships with allies, sharing intelligence for mutual benefit.
Knowing the origin of a threat,its likely targets, and how to combat it, requires dilligent and competent analysis. Modern technological advances have greatly enhanced our ability to conduct sound analysis of gathered information. Effective analysis of seemingly benign, yet potentially siginificant, evidence of a threat absolutely depends on qualified expert advice on an endless variety of topics. Mechanisms should be in place to compel secret testimony from our nation's most distinguished scholars, when properly justified. Similarly, the various intelligence agencies must share information freely.
Those who wish to do us harm do not usually announce their true intentions in advance. They may make idle threats designed to intimidate, confuse, or divert attention, but they usually operate within the cloak of darkness. For them, one of the best places to hide and plot their schemes is right here within our borders. In fact, as Timothy McVeigh proved, the threat can come from an American. We must not be blind to their activities. However, we also must not sacrifice the right to privacy enjoyed by all Americans.
There is a delicate balance that must be struck between the right to privacy and sensible vigilance. Our various investigative and intelligence bodies should be empowered to collect information on anyone, including American citizens. Such collections should be made with legally prescribed and constitutional safeguards. Searches should always require a warrant. Suspicion of threats which could have a significant effect on national security should satisfy the legal standard for the issuance of a warrant in a secret emergency court. This court should be capable of being summoned at a moment's notice.
The events of September 11 prove the crucial importance of not only good intelligence, but also accurate, timely, and unfettered analysis and response. Our three main intelligence agencies, the FBI, CIA, and NSA should not be required to operate in a bubble or with proverbial tied hands and should have liberal access one to the other. The right to privacy should always be considered. Yielding too many of our rights in protection of our democracy constitutes a surrender to the enemy. It is a very difficult balance, but there are sensible ways to protect both our nation and our civil liberties.