E-mail:

“Rich,
Carl Ford’s testimony really demonstrates the problem that any administration (not just the Bush administration) would have in trying to reform the intelligence bureaucracy.
I find it troubling that the intelligence analysis group, which is supposed to provide dispassionate analysis, is so emotional about an episode that occurred years ago. I find it extremely troubling that Ford seems to have gotten so upset because he failed in insulating `his’ analysts from dialogue with senior personnel. Several times, he said that anyone who had any problems with process or substance should talk to him. I think that transparency is at least as important in intelligence gathering as it is in other facets of government.”

ME: This is a good point. The Robb-Silberman commission says that policymakers should be more aggressive in challenging intelligence analysts, rather than less. But the intelligence bureaucracy isn’t going to like it…