INTELLIGENCE FAILURE SUCCESSES

April 8, 2003

Comments

I missed this one yesterday but another really good piece by Ralph Peters, who remains a damn fine analyst when he’s not off on his anti-Rumsfeld bent. Peters points out all the intelligence coups in this war and thinks there will be a goldmine of good intel after it’s over.

We hear a great deal about intelligence failure – but this war has seen remarkable intelligence successes. Even the appearance of Saddam’s Fedayeen thugs in large numbers was no surprise to the intel community – the reports were available, but civilian decisionmakers in the Pentagon dismissed them.

From the CIA to special operations forces, our activities have been comprehensive and effective. Some missions are covert, meaning they can be revealed after the fact. Others are clandestine and will remain shrouded from public view. But both types have been strikingly successful.

Even though he can’t resist jabbing at Rummy and Co., a worthwhile read.

(Hat tip: InstaPundit)

One response to “INTELLIGENCE FAILURE SUCCESSES”

Naereb

April 8, 2003 at 4:58 pm

I give up on Peters. I noticed his subtly derogatory reference to Rummy and Co as “civilian decision makers’ who ignored the intel reports on the feyadeen. What hey?

And what’s that supposed to mean, that because they are “civilians” they don’t know their elbows from their asses? As a civilian working in a paramilitary organization (the police) I understand the role the police need to play, and I serve very well in my capacity. Just because one works as a civilian doesn’t mean they are second class asswipes without a clue. Give us some damn credit. In fact I’d probably be a sworn officer or in the armed forces if it weren’t for my disability. Probably why I’m a bit restless that I’m not over there myself in some kind of combat capacity. I hate standing on the sidelines, it’s like the worst feeling in the world. Of course, that doesn’t dilute the value of civilian support, as much as ‘macho’ men like Peters would like to think otherwise.

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