Advertisement

WMD hunter says intel failed

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Intelligence experts told a senate panel Wednesday the flaws in U.S. spy agencies cannot be fixed unless individuals who failed are made accountable.

"Intelligence reform without accountability will not achieve the objective we all share -- that is avoiding the clearly avoidable tragedy of Sept. 11 and the equally avoidable tragedy of a botched assessment of Iraq's (weapons of mass destruction) capabilities," David Kay told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Advertisement

Kay led the fruitless hunt for stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons in Iraq after the war.

The committee held a rare August recess hearing -- one of an unprecedented series in both chambers of congress -- to consider calls from the Sept. 11 commission for a radical restructuring of the 15 U.S. intelligence agencies, especially the appointment of a new intelligence chief with the authority to manage the nation's spies.

Kay told the panel tht the U.S. intelligence system was in a crisis "so grave that it weakens an essential underpinning of both our diplomatic and our national military security capabilities, and their ability to support U.S. national interests."

Advertisement

Latest Headlines