They say history repeats itself. Looking back, many will argue a breakdown in intelligence left America unprepared for an attack 63 years ago in Hawaii.
And 60 years after the attack on Pearl Harbor, America tragically added another date 'which will live in infamy' in our nation’s history. The 9/11 terrorist attacks likewise strengthened the American character and resolve to protect our way of life.
Hindsight has shown the assault on Sept. 11, 2001 may have been preventable if all the pieces of the intelligence puzzle were shared among the various federal agencies charged with spying on the enemy.
That’s a big 'if.' But if the federal government doesn’t act to shore up the shortcomings in the U.S. intelligence network, we are leaving ourselves vulnerable to another day of infamy. That includes better congressional oversight, too.
The federal government is charged with protecting the security of the American people. And 9/11 exposed serious gaps by which our enemies of the 21st century were able to bypass security measures, infiltrate American society and inflict grievous harm.
Terrorism in the 21st century seeks to demoralize Americans and cripple our way of life. From threats to our nation’s food supply to transportation security and economic sabotage, efforts to counter terrorism will shape public policy for generations to come.
By all accounts we are fighting a different enemy today than in the Cold War when our spy system was developed in 1947 with creation of the Central Intelligence Agency
In an historic coincidence, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to reform the U.S. intelligence community on the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The next day, I joined my colleagues in the U.S. Senate to approve the bill 89-2.
This bill will implement major recommendations made by the bipartisan 9/11 commission whose 10 members issued a unanimous report in July. The independent panel dissected for 19 months the events leading up to the attacks and issued specific proposals to help thwart terrorists in the future.
Perhaps the most significant provision will be creation of a first-ever Cabinet-level Director of National Intelligence who will coordinate and integrate the 15 intelligence agencies now operating in the federal government. A National Counterterrorism Center will serve as command central to coordinate terrorism-related intelligence and information-sharing among the federal agencies.
The new law also will direct new minimum federal standards for drivers’ licenses and other ID used to board airplanes; improve intelligence and law enforcement information-sharing among federal, state, local governments; provide for the development of a national strategy for transportation security and plans for biometric screening technology at airports; add an extra 2,000 border patrol agents and 800 customs agents each year for five years; tighten visa application requirements; and provide new federal assistance aimed at reducing money laundering and tracing cross-border financial transactions.
However, more work remains to toughen enforcement of our illegal immigration laws and visa application system to make sure those who mean harm aren't given the opportunity to cross our borders. That's why when the new Congress convenes in 2005 I will continue my efforts to strengthen our immigration laws aimed at keeping the bad guys out of the country.
Re-tooling the U.S. intelligence community to address the threats of the 21st century is a good step in the right direction. It ought to go a long way towards protecting our national security and keeping citizens safe in communities all across America.