The formation of a powerful intelligence agency to take care of the matters of military intelligence did not include a plan for coordination of intelligence activities between security agencies (Truman 4). Several decades later, the structure of the office of the DNI was instituted to control the various intelligence authorities that had emerged.
However, this office has been consistently unable to perform its duties as expected. The office of the director of national intelligence has failed to perform its duties to the expected level in its capacity. There was speculation that inadequate finance was the cause of the failures of the office.
An increase in the annual funding for the office has failed to improve the condition. However, there are several measures involving organisational change that can streamline and co-ordinate duties at the office of DNI (Stuart 52).
The first necessary solution is to have a unified leadership that will make decisions, rather than have separate authorities delegate similar duties (Stuart 23). One of the major problems facing the office of DNI is the lack of a well-coordinated leadership.
Assignment of duties at the office has been erratic with leaders overseeing intelligence work in various regions lacking coordination. Separate plans by different levels of leadership have resulted to duplication of duties and improper handling of matters of intelligence due to the separate approaches of different offices.
A new channel for reporting will make sure that the proper chain of command is used for reporting matters of intelligence. The current organisation does not assign duties to intelligence officers with due responsibility. This has left the intelligence officers to handle their duties in a manner that one chooses (DoD 5).
Thus, the duties of the intelligence community do not present as obligations, but appear as missions that the intelligence community embark on at will (Stuart 16).
Although significant will is needed for the intelligence community to go about its duties, a clear framework outlining the responsibility of each section or office in the intelligence work will improve efficiency. All these objectives can only be achieved by establishing a decisive leadership, which can outline the duties of the members of the intelligence community.
The second necessary action is the unification of the whole of intelligence community so that the office of DNI can monitor all activities and plans. Although the office of the DNI is expected to control the whole intelligence community, it is not possible to accomplish this for all members of the intelligence community in the country in the prevailing situation.
There is no proper law that brings the control of all members of the intelligence community that are concerned with major intelligence issues under the control of the office of DNI (DoD 11). In addition, there are efforts by some agencies to undermine the office of the DNI by preferring to isolate their activities.
The isolation of these sections of the intelligence community makes it impossible for the office of DNI to draw a realistic and accurate budget plan. Procedures of procurement and other projects that affect the budget of the intelligence community are executed separately making the planning for the allocated resources a difficult task (DoD 13).
It is important to ensure that all the sections of the intelligence community are obligated to cooperate under the office of DNI. This can be achieved by bringing institutions such as the DIA and the CIA under the authority of DNI
The third reason the office of DNI is not able to offer effective leadership to the intelligence community is the lack of constitutional law to put it in a position to deal with all the issues arising in the whole of the intelligence community.
Major intelligence bodies such as the CIA and DIA, which are considered major arms of intelligence, are finding it difficult to report to the office of the DNI since the constitution does not explicitly express that the intelligence agencies should report to that office.
Furthermore, CIA, the major member of the intelligence community, has traditionally reported to other offices, which are thought to be of a higher authority. In a more simplistic interpretation, all sections of the intelligence community need to report to the office of the DNI, which should then report to the president.
Intelligence deals with gathering of information of significance to security. It is important to ensure that the members of the intelligence community are able to pool the information gathered in their separate intelligence activities in order to provide security for the nation. Currently, the DNI oversees the operations of the members of the intelligence community as completely separate entities with no proper platform for sharing information (DoD 17).
There is need for enactment of a law that obligates the members of the intelligence community to share information without any restriction. This will establish the intelligence community as one intelligence body that works in unity to combat security problems. In addition, there should be a clear policy that governs the manner in which the intelligence is shared.
A plan on how to avert the danger of having information leaked to the public or to those who intend to compromise security is necessary in the implementation of a policy to lay foundation for information sharing.
With an elaborate system, it is easier to establish security for the country’s citizens and interests. The current reluctance of the members of the intelligence community to share information is partly due to the danger presented by knowledge of classified information by many people. Moreover, the state of information in the intelligence community is limited, with the members sharing information regarding terrorist threats alone.
Works Cited
DoD, DTIC. The National Intelligence Strategy of the United States of America. Ft. Belvoir: Defense Technical Information Center, 2009. Print.
Stuart, Douglas T.. Creating the national security state: a history of the law that transformed America. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2008. Print.
Truman, Harry S.. National Security Act of 1947: communication from the President of the United States