CHAIRMAN HYDE SOUNDS AN URGENT WARNING ABOUT THE NEED TO STRENGTHEN, DEPOLITICIZE U.S. INTELLIGENCE

(Washington, D.C.): One of the most influential
legislators of our time, Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL),
today issued a clarion call for major changes in the
Clinton Administration’s approach to the collection and
analysis of sensitive foreign intelligence. In a lengthy
op.ed. article published in the Washington Times ( href=”index.jsp?section=papers&code=96-P_06at”>see the attached), Rep. Hyde
argued that “it is imperative that intelligence
— this Nation’s early warning system — be better
than ever in this post- Cold War world.”
(Emphasis added.)

Of course, this contention flies in the face of
conventional wisdom which views the collapse of Soviet
communism as a millenial event, one that essentially
ended much of the justification for U.S. military
preparedness in general and intelligence capabilities in
particular. Coming as it does, however, from a
congressman who currently serves as the chairman of the
House Judiciary Committee and as a senior member of the
House International Relations Committee, it cannot be
given short shrift. This is especially true since Rep.
Hyde’s observations are informed by his service as a
combat veteran in World War II and long-time membership
on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

The Center for Security Policy is proud of its
long-standing association with Rep. Hyde, who has been a
distinguished member of its Board of Advisors since 1989.
It enthusiastically seconds his contribution to the
urgently required debate in the following areas:

• The extent to which Clinton Administration
  cuts in intelligence resources and personnel are
  excessive and giving rise to serious deficiencies
  in such key areas as Russian strategic missile
  threats, military mobilization levels and denial
  and deception activities.
• The need for seeking “increasing access
  to high priority targets including Russia, China,
  North Korea and the ‘rogue states’ of the Middle
  East.”
• The necessity for “competitive
  analysis” of intelligence,
  notwithstanding the desire to “eliminate
  perceived redundancies” — including that
  needed to pursue “comprehensive challenges
  to ‘mainstream’ opinion in any analytical area
  significant to national security.”
• The importance of maintaining covert action as
  “a normal tool of U.S. statecraft” and
  streamlined congressional oversight of both
  overt and covert intelligence operations. And
• The critical requirement for a “firewall…between
  intelligence and policy, [the latter] often
  [being] driven by political considerations.“

The Center applauds Rep. Henry Hyde for his
leadership in this area and in so many others — notably
the need for U.S. anti-missile protection — vital to
American security. Today’s article should be required
reading for his colleagues and an agenda for action in
the new session of the 104th Congress.