The Intelligence Community Oversight

The Intelligence Community Oversight What do you consider to be the biggest challenge facing Congressional Oversight of the Intelligence Community? Research has shown that for a long time, the congress lacked adequate information on the components of intelligence. Puyvelde (2013, 140) confirms that for over 25 years, little effort has been put in place by the congress in enhancing intelligence. After critical review of history, Moran (2011, 676) elucidates that there are myriads of intelligence failures across the world.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on The Intelligence Community Oversight specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For instance, a number of regimes have been overthrown from power. Assassinations and incessant uprisings are also rife in various parts of the globe. According to Puyvelde (2013, 140), the congress failed to institute measures to curb both local and international threats until the late 19th century when aggressive intelligen ce programs began to take shape. After the end of major world wars, the congress made a deliberate attempt to protect intelligence programs. Instead of facilitating intelligence operations, it ended up establishing restrictive measures. It is worth to mention that the latter has been a major challenge for Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The greatest challenge facing congressional oversight is lack of incentives and time to oversee the management of Intelligence affairs. Puyvelde (2013, 141) observes that â€Å"senior policymakers and intelligence officers have at crucial times, demonstrated a reluctance to submit intelligence agencies to external oversight.† It is evident that there have been sharp divisions between the judiciary and executive arms of government on issues related to national intelligence. Moreover, the congress has not provided ample political support to the intelligence community. Actually, the issue of intelligence in the United States has widely been ca ptured in the media through newspapers and blogs (Puyvelde 2013, 142). The media is apparently compelling the government to demonstrate more interest in the management and overall improvement of intelligence matters by providing necessary incentives to the CIA. Are the authorities and requirements enough to ensure that the Intelligence community operates within their established lanes? Puyvelde (2013, 145) points out that the Intelligence Community faces numerous challenges due to limited authority and lack of support from the Congress. Moran (2011, 677) is emphatic that if the CIA can be accorded relevant support in terms of resources, it will be in a position to operate within the established boundaries. Puyvelde (2013, 143) underscores that the congress uses watchdogs as overseers to restrain activities of the CIA. This has compelled the agency to operate without the input of the public. Members of public are crucial since they have reliable information that can be used to enhanc e intelligence.Advertising Looking for critical writing on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Puyvelde (2013, 144) observes that the congress should give the Intelligence Community necessary requirements such as finances and freedom to access crucial sources of information from government archives and records. Puyvelde (2013, 144) argues that â€Å"most studies of intelligence accountability in the United States have focused on the institutional system of checks and balances.† Therefore, it is obvious that checks and balances by the congress usually hinder the CIA from operating within the established regulations. If the congress can be lenient enough and grant authority to the agency, then it will be possible for different interest groups to cooperate with the CIA (Puyvelde 2013, 144). This will not merely improve accountability. It will also assist interest groups to participate in national security and intelligence maters. Relevant supports such as incentives, political goodwill and adequate funding should be given to the Intelligence Community in order to improve the overall standard of intelligence. The Intelligence Community can only function well if a conducive working environment is put in place. References Moran, Christopher, 2011. â€Å"Intelligence and the Media: The press, government secrecy and the ‘Buster’ Crabb Affair.† Intelligence and National Security 26, no. 5 (October): 676-700. Puyvelde, Damien. 2013. â€Å"Intelligence Accountability and the role of public interest groups in the United States.† Intelligence and National Security 28, no. 2 (May): 139-158.

Memorial Day Quotes and Sayings

Memorial Day Quotes and Sayings On Memorial Day, we commemorate the  soldiers who sacrificed their lives in battles to win or preserve our freedom. Many of them were young men and women who did not live long enough to fully experience the privileges that they fought to sustain. Use these Memorial Day quotes and sayings to honor their sacrifice. Francis A. Walker: We come, not to mourn our dead soldiers, but to praise them.Francis Marion Crawford: They fell, but oer their glorious grave floats free the banner of the cause they died to save.Daniel Webster: Although no sculptured marble should rise to their memory, nor engraved stone bear record of their deeds, yet will their remembrance be as lasting as the land they honored.Lucy Larcom: Life hangs as nothing in the scale against dear Liberty!Marcus Garvey: Chance has never yet satisfied the hope of a suffering people. Action, self-reliance, the vision of self and the future have been the only means by which the oppressed have seen and realized the light of their own freedom.Elizabeth Barrett Browning: And each man stand with his face in the light of his own drawn sword. Ready to do what a hero can.George F. Kennan: Heroism ... is endurance for one moment more.George Henry Boker: Fold him in his countrys stars. Roll the drum and fire the volley! What to him are all our wars, what but death be mocking folly? Benjamin Harrison: I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day. I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak because of those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it. We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did.James A. Garfield: For love of country, they accepted death.Omar Bradley: Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death.Philip Freneau: But fame is theirs - and future days. On pillard brass shall tell their praiseLise Hand: Thats what it takes to be a hero, a little gem of innocence inside you that makes you want to believe that there still exists a right and wrong, that decency will somehow triumph in the end.Louis Pasteur: It is surmounting difficulties that makes heroes.James Gates Percival: Green sods are all their monuments, and yet it tells a noble r history than pillared piles or the eternal pyramids. Albert Einstein: So long as there are men there will be wars.Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: Heroism is latent in every human soul. However humble or unknown, they (the veterans) have renounced what are accounted pleasures and cheerfully undertaken all self-denials; privations, toils, dangers, sufferings, sicknesses, mutilations, life-long hurts and losses, death itself? For some great good, dimly seen but dearly held.