Intelligence and National Security Summit Hits the Open Dialogue Mark

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Debates about transparency within the Intelligence Community (IC) continue as leaks imperil relationships with allies and embolden enemies. Addressing these and other challenges was the focal point of the AFCEA/INSA Intelligence and National Security Summit 2014 in Washington, D.C.

Setting the tone for this discussion was its leadoff speaker, James R. Clapper, director of national intelligence (DNI). Clapper called out those who want the IC to be squeaky clean about its collection methods. "We are expected to keep the nation safe by collecting intelligence in such a manner as there is no risk and no embarrassment to anyone if that is revealed, no threat to anyone's bottom line," he said. "We call that 'immaculate collection.'"

Clapper also rolled out the 2014 National Intelligence Strategy of the United States of America at the summit. In a show of transparency, the DNI signed off on one version only—unclassified. The new strategy outlines four major components: strategic environment, mission objective, enterprise objective and implementing the strategy.

Several IC leaders at the summit stated that insider leaks have done serious harm. Adm. Michael Rogers, USN, commander, U.S. Cyber Command and director, National Security Agency, said that people are "sadly mistaken" if they think these revelations have had no impact. "I am watching groups change their behavior as a result of these revelations," he stated.

In addition to IC leaders, the top two members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence shared their views at the summit concerning the perils the U.S. also faces in space and cyberspace. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), committee chairman, and Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), ranking member of the committee, warned of increasing threats to U.S. economic prominence if those two areas are not addressed.

"Cyberspace is the greatest national security threat that America is not ready to handle," Rogers declared. Ruppersberger noted that China in particular is stealing billions of dollars worth of information from U.S. companies annually in cyber attacks and that both China and Russia are aggressive in space, which enables numerous capabilities if the U.S. is involved in another war.

Additional coverage of the summit is available online.

AFCEA International, established in 1946, is a non-profit membership association serving the military, government, industry and academia. Join online.

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SOURCE AFCEA International

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