FIXING INTELLIGENCE (Yale Nota Bene) - Softcover

Odom, William E.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0300103042 ISBN 13: 9780300103045

Publisher: YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2004

Synopsis

Security depends on intelligence. A leading authority discusses basic problems in American intelligence and how to fix them

William E. Odom is the highest-ranking member of the United States Intelligence community ever to write a book outlining fundamental restructuring of this vast network of agencies technology and human agents. In the wake of 9/11 Odom has revised and updated a powerful critique he wrote several years ago for staffs of the U.S. congressional committee overseeing the vast American intelligence bureaucracy. His recommendations for revamping this essential component of American security are now available for general readers as well as for policymakers.

While giving an unmatched overview of the world of U.S. intelligence Odom persuasively shows that the failure of American intelligence on 9/11 had much to do with the complex bureaucratic relationships existing among the various components of the Intelligence Community. The sustained fragmentation within the Intelligence Community since World War II is part of the story; the blurring of security and intelligence duties is another. Odom describes the various components of American intelligence in order to give readers an understanding of how complex they are and what can be done to make them more effective in providing timely intelligence and more efficient in using their large budgets. He shows definitively that they cannot be remedied with quick fixes but require deep study of the entire bureaucracy and the commitment of the U.S. government to implement the necessary reforms.

About this title

About the Author

William E. Odom, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and a professor (adjunct) at Yale University, is also the author of The Collapse of the Soviet Military, published by Yale University Press. General Odom’s former positions include director of the National Security Agency and assistant chief of staff for intelligence in the U.S. Army.

From the Back Cover

"Odom's important and thought-provoking book . . . couldn't be more timely."--Eric Lichtblau, New York Times Book Review; "Indispensable . . . a formidable contribution to the difficult work ahead in realigning the intelligence agencies' Cold War-vintage structure."-Lorraine Adams, Washington Post Book World; "A vital and extraordinarily timely contribution to our national debate."-Zbigniew Brzezinski; "This is a forcefully and cogently argued book. It is a necessary read for anyone concerned about the future of intelligence."--Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs; "General Odom uses the unique insight gained from years of experience in the intelligence business to explain in plain language an issue that is critical to U.S. national security - intelligence community reform. A valuable resource to expert and novice alike." - Senator Richard C. Shelby; "By publishing the Odom study, Yale University Press establishes a benchmark, a guide for public debate on this vital issue." - David E. Murphy, retired National Intelligence Officer and CIA Soviet specialist

Edition details

• Publisher: YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0300103042
• ISBN 13: 9780300103045
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 281