Negroponte Issues New U.S. Intelligence Strategy

27 October 2005

Intelligence Director Issues New U.S. Intelligence Strategy
Plan establishes major intelligence objectives, John Negroponte says

Washington -- A comprehensive U.S. strategy that is designed to integrate the missions of the 15 intelligence agencies better, while enhancing the collection of intelligence on threats to U.S. national security worldwide was released by the director of national intelligence October 26.

It specifically calls for defeating terrorism worldwide and promoting freedom and democracy.

"This strategy is a statement of our fundamental values, highest priorities and orientation toward the future, but it is an action document as well," said Director of National Intelligence John D. Negroponte. "For U.S. national intelligence, time for change is now."

The strategy focuses on five mission objectives and 10 related “enterprise objectives,” or goals.

The five mission objectives are:

-- Defeat terrorists at home and abroad by disarming their operational capabilities, and seizing the initiative from them by promoting the growth of freedom and democracy;

-- Prevent and counter the spread of weapons of mass destruction;

-- Bolster the growth of democracy and sustain peaceful democratic states;

-- Develop innovative ways to penetrate and analyze the most difficult targets; and

-- Anticipate developments of strategic concern and identify opportunities as well as vulnerabilities for decision-makers.

Overall, Negroponte told reporters October 26 that the current missions of the 15 intelligence agencies have not changed.

The enterprise objectives are designed to help the restructuring and transformation of the agencies that began after Negroponte became the chief intelligence adviser six months ago.

"U.S. national intelligence must be tailored to the threats of the 21st century, which seldom conform to the traditional profiles of hostile states and alliances," Negroponte said in the opening section of the strategy document.

He said that implicit in each of the tasks is the assumption that this new approach represents a far-reaching reform of previous intelligence practices and arrangements.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) was created in December 2004 with passage of the sweeping Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Act. (See related article.)

Text of the National Intelligence Strategy (http://www.dni.gov/NISOctober2005.pdf PDF, 32 pages) is available on the ODNI Web site.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

© Scoop Media