U.S. Intelligence Community Faces Four Major Challenges
Economics, crime, terrorism and technology form the basis of four major challenges confronting the U.S. intelligence community, according to its director. Dan Coats, director of national intelligence, described the causes of these challenges to a large luncheon audience on the first day of the 2018 Intelligence and National Security Summit sponsored by AFCEA International and INSA at National Harbor, Maryland.
Coats described the first challenge as the growing demand for economic intelligence. This information can have a variety of national security applications. The second challenge is that the intelligence community must posture itself to face the problem of transnational organized crime.
The first of four challenges the intelligence community faces is the growing demand for economic intelligence.—Dan Coats, director of national intelligence @ODNIgov #Intelligence2018
— Bob Ackerman (@rkackerman) September 4, 2018
The third challenge is that the global war on terrorism has entered a new phase, Coats offered. Groups such as ISIS have lost virtually all the territory they used to control, but they now are emphasizing the ability to strike against Western assets. And the fourth challenge is the intelligence community’s need for a more efficient collection and analysis cycle “that will enable a revolutionary step forward,” he said.
The fourth challenge is we need a more efficient collection and analysis cycle that will enable a revolutionary step forward.—Dan Coats, director of national intelligence @ODNIgov #Intelligence2018
— Bob Ackerman (@rkackerman) September 4, 2018
These challenges come against the backdrop of a more dangerous world. China continues to pursue a more active foreign policy, particularly outside its traditional areas of operation, Coats pointed out. Russia faces rising discontent over economic stagnation, which may lead President Vladimir Putin to turn public attention outside of Russia’s borders. Iran also is suffering unrest amid worsening economic conditions, and North Korea’s commitment—which Coats framed in visual hand quotes—represents a huge challenge to the intelligence community.
We are gaining a greater appreciation and understanding of China’s growing ambitions outside its traditional arena of operation.—Dan Coats, director of national intelligence @ODNIgov #Intelligence2018
— Bob Ackerman (@rkackerman) September 4, 2018
Weapons of mass destruction also occupy significant places on the intelligence community watch list. North Korea has nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles that threaten the United States and all its allies in the region, Coats offered. And, he expressed concern about the development of biological weapons in the guise of biomedical research. The community is watching this closely and expects the threat to grow, he added.
We are closely watching the development of biological weapons. We expect this to grow.—Dan Coats, director of national intelligence @ODNIgov #Intelligence2018
— Bob Ackerman (@rkackerman) September 4, 2018
Coats addressed the concerns about cyber threats “I am deeply concerned about cyber threats to upcoming elections. But the cyber threat to the United States is not limited to elections,” he declared. He added that every kind of cyber operation leaves a trail, and analysts use this to track cyber actions back to their origin. “Rest assured, we are not just standing by. Every day, we are collecting and integrating intelligence on our adversaries,” he stated.
Every kind of cyber operation, malicious or not, leaves a trail, and our analysts use this … to trace it back.—Dan Coats, director of national intelligence @ODNIgov #Intelligence2018
— Bob Ackerman (@rkackerman) September 4, 2018
“Our mission has to be: to seek the truth and speak the truth, for the world that we view and the liberties we must protect.”
