We also turned on the radio and listened to the BBC World Service. Throughout the night, we compared what we were getting from classified sources to the information we were getting from radio and cable TV. The "secret" stuff -- I didn't have a "top secret" clearance, 'cause I was just an E-5 and nobody loved me -- was well behind the open sources; we'd learn X fact from the radio, then get X fact an hour later on the magic secret box. (The running joke: "But don't tell anyone that, because it's classified." While the dude on the TV was saying it for the the fifth time.)
So this new column from William Lind made immediate sense to me.
2 comments:
You've probably heard this story, too, then.
I wonder if this is inertia -- there've been stories about DOD blocking access to various sites for years -- or an actual new initiative of some sort?
Chris,
yes I remember that incident as well the BBC had pictures of the unexploded bombs in less than 2 hours and the SIPR only acknowledged that yes something had indeed exploded. A big problem with US intelligence is that it is process oriented instead of product oriented. Also intelligence product is created in a group and outliers are thrown out even if they are credible. A lot of the times with the blocking of the computers is because of possible computer attacks and malware infections not cutting the analyst off from the outside world.
Cheers
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