Excerpt
JEFFREY BROWN (Newshour): And we turn to the latest attempt to fill what has been a complex and even controversial job aimed at keeping the nation safe.
Retired Air Force General James Clapper appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee this afternoon, bidding to become the nation's fourth director of national intelligence.
LT. GEN. JAMES CLAPPER (RET.), national intelligence director nominee: We are the largest, most capable intelligence enterprise on the planet. It is a solemn, sacred trust of the DNI to make that enterprise work for the sake of this nation and its people.
JEFFREY BROWN: Clapper is currently undersecretary of defense for intelligence. He also served as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in the 1990s.
President Obama noted that resume when he nominated Clapper last month.
U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: With four decades of service to America, Jim is one of our nation's most experienced and most respected intelligence professionals.
JEFFREY BROWN: The 9/11 attacks led to the creation of the Cabinet- level post of director of national intelligence, or DNI, after the 9/11 Commission faulted the intelligence community for a lack of coordination that might have prevented the attacks.
The DNI channels all intelligence-related information to the president and oversees the National Counterterrorism Center, or NCTC. Sixteen separate agencies and departments feed information to the center, including the CIA, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Agency.
But, from the beginning, the job has been fraught with challenges. Turf battles among intelligence agencies have hurt all three of General Clapper's predecessors, including the most recent, Admiral Dennis Blair, who was forced to step down in May.
At today's confirmation hearing, the chair of the Intelligence Committee, Democrat Dianne Feinstein, said Clapper is taking on a critical task and a tough one.
SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN,(D-Calif.): Intelligence growth has not always led to improved performance. Growth in the size and number of agencies, offices, task forces, and centers has also challenged the ability of former directors of national intelligence to truly manage the community.
General Clapper, I want to be clear that we do not question your service, your knowledge, or your capability. We only ask that you clearly indicate your vision and commitment to head the intelligence community this afternoon and work to give it direction and prevent sprawl, overlap, and duplication.
JEFFREY BROWN: The hearing came amid a series in The Washington Post that found that the intelligence community has grown so large since 9/11, no one knows how effective it is and that it's become heavily reliant on private contractors in preserving national security.
Highly recommend readers follow the Post's series Top Secret America.
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