Author Description

Proposals for the reorganisation of the United States Intelligence Community have repeatedly emerged from commissions and committees created by either the executive or legislative branches. This new book traces such proposals from 1949 to 2004 which include virtually every presidency. The goals underlying such proposals have reflected trends in American foreign policy and the international environment as well as domestic concerns about governmental accountability. The major frames for the proposals were responses to the cold war during its duration and afterwards and now on the war against terrorism. The community has evolved to the point where the Director of Central Intelligence is responsible for the intelligence but 80 per cent of the budget is allocated to and controlled by the Pentagon. The best interests of the United States are at risk in such a contraption which is subject to turf battles on a regular basis. The same territorial imperatives restrict the implementation of meaningful change or have so far at least.