CIA Article Review and Anaylsis - Term Paper Example

eport on CIA Accountability with Respect to the 9/11 Attacks. The analysis is conducted with a view to identifying the intelligence process, models and sources of intelligence, and organizational functions and structures existing just prior to the 9/11 attacks. The analysis will also identify and analyse how the traditional intelligence cycle identified in the OIG’s Report, point to a need for an alternative intelligence analysis such as the target-centric analysis presented by Clark. In this regard, Clark’s target-centric analysis involves an intelligence process that brings together all stakeholders: consumers, analysts and those who collect intelligence for collaboration and cohesion against a common and complex enemy.

The objective is to build a shared picture of the target from which all participants can extract the elements they need to do their job.5 By reference to the OIG’s Report and drawing on Clark’s target-centric analysis this study identifies the main purpose of intelligence analysis and how intelligence analysis failed to meet its objective. II. OIG Report on CIA Accountability with Respect to the 9/11 Attacks: Summary Intelligence analysis is designed to aid officials such as policymakers, the military, law enforcement and all stakeholders to respond to and to more accurately predict threats to national security.

6 However, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) failed to meet this objective with respect to the 9/11 attacks despite the fact that the organization had gathered on al-Qaeda operatives 20 months prior to the attack. The intelligence collected indicated that a terror attack was eminent.7 Following a joint inquiry with respect to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Congress requested that the OIG conduct an investigation with a view to determining whether or not CIA officials and personnel in charge of intelligence gathering and analysis prior to and during 9/11 were and are responsible for failing to execute their duties satisfactorily.

8 As a result of its investigation, the OIG completed a report in 2005, although the report was not publically released until 2007 at which time only an executive summary of the report was released.9 The OIG’s report indicated that the CIA together with its personnel failed to execute their duties satisfactorily, although none of the relevant officers broke the law or acted in a way that involved “misconduct”.10 A review team, appointed by the OIG pursuant to the investigation concluded that although CIA officers throughout the organization worked aggressively with respect to al-Qaeda and Usama Bin Ladin, they “did not always work effectively and cooperatively”.

11 The report goes on to state that the review team: .found neither a “single point of failure” nor a “silver bullet” that would have enabled the Intelligence Community to predict or prevent the 9/11 attacks. The Team did find however, failure to implement and manage important processes, failure to imple