[iwar] [fc:Spying-On-Terrorists-And-Thwarting-Them-Gains-New-Urgency]

From: Fred Cohen (fc@all.net)
Date: 2001-09-14 05:31:39
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From: Fred Cohen <fc@all.net>
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Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 05:31:39 -0700 (PDT)
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Subject: [iwar] [fc:Spying-On-Terrorists-And-Thwarting-Them-Gains-New-Urgency]
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New York Times
September 14, 2001
Spying On Terrorists And Thwarting Them Gains New Urgency
By Lizette Alvarez
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 - Hoping to prevent future terrorist attacks, House and
Senate lawmakers expressed broad support today for funneling more money to
intelligence operations, beefing up spy networks and creating one agency to
handle terrorism.
The nation spends an estimated $10 billion a year to fight terrorism, a sum
that many lawmakers from both parties called inadequate and that is likely
to be increased this session. But instead of using the money to upgrade
traditional satellite capabilities and telephone surveillance, many urged
that the money be spent on old-fashioned human spying and more advanced
computer tracking, the kind of intelligence that may have been able to
prevent Tuesday's attacks.
"We need to re-emphasize the importance of getting a human being who can get
inside those cells and learn what their intentions and capabilities are,"
said Senator Bob Graham, Democrat of Florida, the chairman of the Senate
Intelligence Committee. "We have also seen a reduction in the ability to
eavesdrop on terrorists and others who might threaten the United States as
the technology has changed. It was easier when they were communicating by
telephone. It is more difficult when they are using computer communication."
Mr. Graham and other lawmakers, speaking at news conferences and in
interviews, said that just as important was the need to consolidate power to
combat terrorism in one central agency or individual, a step that could
alleviate dozens of existing jurisdictional battles.
"We need to have within our intelligence agency somebody specifically in
charge of our counterterrorism efforts," Mr. Graham added. "Today that
responsibility is spread among a number of agencies and we spend too much
time trying to decide just who is in charge."
Representative Porter J. Goss, Republican of Florida, chairman of the House
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said Tuesday's terrorist attacks
required a long-term commitment. "The world is different," he said.
"Technology is different. The nature of the threat is different. The
response must be different."
The lawmakers' statements followed an acknowledgment by officials at the
government's intelligence agencies - the C.I.A., the F.B.I. and the National
Security Agency - that they were surprised by Tuesday's attacks. While the
agencies have been criticized for what some have called an egregious lapse,
many lawmakers believe that the agencies have been hamstrung by increasing
restraints.
The issue over how to beef up intelligence is likely to begin in earnest
over the next few weeks, when Congress votes on a bill to finance the
Justice Department and grapples with military spending.
The ideas for revamping the intelligence agencies are wide-ranging. Some
lawmakers, like Senator Evan Bayh, an Indiana Democrat who is on the
intelligence panel, suggested that the C.I.A. should be given freer rein to
stop terrorism, including reinstating its power to assassinate.
"It's not possible to seize him and bring him to trial," Mr. Bayh said,
referring to Osama bin Laden if he turns out to be culpable. "You can argue
that a more targeted approach may be in order."
Others talked of expanding domestic eavesdropping, an idea that makes those
concerned about civil liberties uncomfortable.
Late tonight, the Senate approved an amendment as part of a spending bill to
finance the Justice Department that would make it easier for law enforcement
to wiretap computers and combat cyberterrorism. Supporters of the bipartisan
amendment said law enforcement officials must go from jurisdiction to
jurisdiction to obtain a court order since computer communication crosses
state boundaries. The amendment would streamline the process by allowing a
federal judge to issue an order.
After the vote, the Senate passed the larger bill to finance the departments
of Commerce, State, Justice and the judiciary.
"You cannot tap the lines of a terrorist," said Senator Orrin G. Hatch of
Utah, the senior Republican on the Judiciary Committee. "This corrects
that."
The amendment caused concern among some senators who felt it was being
rushed to the floor with little concern about giving the government new
power to pry into someone's computer.
Congress is also expected to act to enhance airport security. For years, the
House and the Senate have been reluctant to increase spending on better
baggage inspections and X- ray machines, among other things, despite the
advice of the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress.
Now some lawmakers are urging the government to handle some portions of
airport security, rather than permitting airports to hire private
contractors.
Senator Ernest F. Hollings, Democrat of South Carolina, the chairman of the
Commerce Committee, said the federal government should operate airport
security scanners.
Unless that is federalized, he said, the government cannot expect to improve
its current results.
One intelligence analyst who works for the government but asked to remain
anonymous said none of these suggestions were new. The government has been
aware of its intelligence gaps, he said; many became obvious during the
bombing of two United States embassies in Africa and of the U.S.S. Cole in
Yemen.
"People know what the solution is," the expert said. "We haven't had
leadership from either inside or outside to do it. It's a bureaucracy that
won't get out of its own way."

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