> Actually, spending on Intelligence, especially the CIA, has been declining as a portion of the Federal budget since the mid-1970s. This was primarily related to excesses of the intelligence agencies, which involved assassination plots, the engineering of foreign elections, and the Iran Contra debacle. At the risk of agreeing with Stuntman to a limited degree, I am of the opinion that the Federal intelligence agencies have been woefully under funded and too much emphasis has been placed on electronic intelligence rather than human intelligence operations (Spies). The excesses of the 1970s and 1980s should have resulted in increased supervision instead of severe budget cuts.<
Klinton gave Tenet his position. His hands were tied by the Torcelli principle which kept field agents from being able to act independently. They had to get permission from Washington before taking any action, amongst other restrictions. Presumably this was one of the problems that let bin hidden slip through our fingers on three seperate occasions during klintons watch. > I will be very surprised, if recently manufactured WMDs are found.< So would I. Key words "recently manufactured". Currently here in Indiana there is opposition to destroying stock piles of deadly nerve agents made in the 60's due to safety concerns. They are still etremely lethal and neutralizing them is dangerous work. So WMD's that Iraq was known to possess prior to 1991 would still be considered as dangerous. >On the other hand, perhaps they will suddenly be discovered in late September or early October.< They might not be discovered untill after the election too. > Regarding the movement of Iraqi secret police and the possible transportation of WMDs to Syria, I would question the a military operation that allowed that to occur.< It was just prior to the offensive, we didn't have freedom of movement under the UN 1991 treaty to go into the corridor between Iraq and Syria. NOBODY in Iraq dared question Sadamned. >I also doubt that the Israeli government under Sharon would allow Syria to possess WMDs even briefly.< Lack of intelligence inside of Syria is a problem. If it was known for sure that Syria was hidding them I also believe Israel would act. It is just very suspicious though for Syrian troops to be stationed in the middle of no-where guarding sand dunes if they hold nothing but sand. Stuntman
