We have actually experienced in recent months a dramatic demonstration of an unprecedented intelligence failure, perhaps the most significant intelligence failure in the history of the United States.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
We need some great failures. Especially we ever-successful Americans - conscious, intelligent, illuminating failures.
For four years, I listened to stories of intelligence failures, and it wasn't due to incompetence of anyone in the system, but that the system is so arcane.
The intelligence failures with respect to Iraq were massive and have damaged our credibility around the world.
If you look back today over the last 25 years, it is a fact that we have had a progressive degeneration of our intelligence community in general; in particular in the field of human intelligence.
The U.S. increasingly has taken on the characteristics of what we describe as 'failed states.'
We will have to continue to improve our human intelligence system-something that was, unfortunately, lacking in the years which led up to September 11. This is going to be a continuing process of change.
The Committee's review of a series of intelligence shortcomings, to include intelligence prior to 9/11 and the pre-war intelligence on Iraq, clearly reveal how vital a diverse intelligence workforce is to our national security.
In the aftermath of September 11, and as the 9/11 Commission report so aptly demonstrates, it is clear that our intelligence system is not working the way that it should.
The history of the intelligence community is replete with violations of the trust of the American people.
Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.