Ex-CIA Chief James Woolsey
Oct. 10 -- What is the Cental Intelligence Agency's role in the "new war" on terrorism? Did we learn anything from the Gulf War or interventions in the Balkans that can be applied to this new conflict? How can the intelligence community refocus its efforts to prevent further attacks?
Following is the transcript of a live chat with James Woolsey, director of the CIA from 1993-95. A former Navy undersecretary and arms-control negotiator, Woolsey is currently a partner at the Washington-based law firm Shea & Gardner, where he has practiced for 17 years.
MODERATOR at 3:00 p.m. ET
How did the U.S. intelligence community fail to detect and prevent the Sept. 11 attacks?
JAMES WOOLSEY at 3:02 p.m. ET
It wasn't just the intelligence community, although they failed along with a lot of others. Part of the problem was that these were individuals, some of whom had been in the country for many months and they were not breaking any laws, so there was no reason for the FBI to investigate.
Two individuals were passed on to the FBI by the CIA, but they had not given accurate information when they entered the country about where they would be staying and the FBI was still looking for them on Sept. 11.
Other failures were of airport security, having no air defense fighter interceptors near Washington, D.C. and a set of policies that had been adopted by the CIA in late 1995 which made it more difficult, although not impossible, to recruit spies overseas if those individuals had some violence in their past. This was a very poor set of guidelines, and I believe it was one of the things that hindered the CIA's ability to recruit people in terrorist organizations.
MODERATOR at 3:04 p.m. ET
How important is the CIA's role in the "new war" on terrorism?
JAMES WOOLSEY at 3:06 p.m. ET
Extremely important in two ways, both by exchanging information with foreign intelligence services and by managing spies. It is the vehicle for obtaining human intelligence, which is often the only kind of intelligence that is very useful regarding terrorists.
Occasionally signals intelligence has some use, but you learn very little about terrorists from satellite photographs.
The second major CIA responsibility is for covert action, which is statutorily defined as efforts to influence events abroad secretly, rather than learning about them. This can include, for example, supplying weapons to rebel groups or providing money for their operations. Under a 1975 executive order that is still in existence, it cannot include assassination.
MODERATOR at 3:08 p.m. ET
What are your thoughts on the U.S. military response thus far?
JAMES WOOLSEY at 3:09 p.m. ET
So far, I'm pleased with what I've seen. I believe the next phase should include attacks from the air in support of rebel forces fighting against Taliban units in the field.
MODERATOR at 3:10 p.m. ET
Any lessons learned from past U.S. interventions that can be applied to the current conflict?
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