I know this comes a week after our discussion of the definition of terrorism, but the fact that it's going on today makes it applicable. In the first week's readings we learned that different federal government agencies have different definitions of "terror" and "terrorism" making it difficult to fight terrorism nationally, and even harder to construct an international definition that can be adhered to. This CNN article highlights the difficulty federal agencies have in not only defining terrorism, but in figuring out who is supposed to be in charge of the counter-terrorism efforts and what authority the Director of National Intelligence should have with regard to overseeing the 16 (yes SIXTEEN...just stop and read that again...16, SIXTEEN) intelligence agencies that report to the DNI.
With 16 agencies--each with a slightly different definition of terror and terrorism--being headed by one Congressionally-mandated position that has no real authority, it's no wonder Dennis Blair became so frustrated he resigned.
Though it's a cliche, too many chefs does indeed spoil the pot, and with sixteen intelligence agencies and one powerless Director, the pot might be dangerously close to boiling over.
14 years ago
Thank you for bringing this to the forefront of our attention. Having done last week's readings in the class, you all could have written this article. You know there's a welter of definitions of terrorism out there, many of which we read and talked about. This CNN article highlights the problems that arise as a result. This goes beyond our discussion of definitions to look at the administrative and management (some would say bureaucratic) issues that have led to and resulted from this situation. Those of you in the MPA and MPP program have studied the problems that occur when there are no clear lines of reporting or authority and know all too well why this is a problem. It would be interesting to hear from any of you who have thought more deeply about this.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting sidebar: Frances Fragos Townsend, former Director of Homeland Security in the Bush White House, is an AU/SPA alumna and a graduate of the Washington College of Law. She has spoken at AU several times. I hope some of you have had the opportunity to hear her or will look her up and read more about her. She has an incisive mind and her insights on this issue are well worth studying.