HASC Intel Panel Gently Reins In DoD Spy Service « Breaking Defense: Intent on ensuring the American taxpayers gets value for money and the Defense Department gets tactical intelligence it needs, Rep. Mac Thornberry wants to fence half of the money for the Pentagon’s new Defense Clandestine Service.
“I think that DIA has made significant progress in developing and explaining the DCS,” Thornberry, chairman of the House Armed Services intelligence and emerging threats subcommittee, said in an interview. “Remember, they are not adding money or people to do this.” He argued that DCS would result in better trained and more effective human collectors. DIA has long fielded spies but they have not been trained or run by anything like the CIA’s Clandestine Service.
Thornberry said the DCS was intended to “put more structure and professionalism in the ranks. I can’t believe anyone would object to that.”
However, some intelligence professionals and Sen. John McCain have raised questions, with the Arizona senator saying he doesn’t oppose DCS but wants to ensure tight oversight. After all, the CIA has long trained and fielded spies. Why does the country need another human intelligence collection effort, I asked the congressman?
