DATE=6/2/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233234
TITLE=INTELLIGENCE FAILURE REPORT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  A NEW REPORT SAYS AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE FAILED TO PREDICT
INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS BECAUSE THEY WERE DISORGANIZED AND THEY DID
MISUNDERSTOOD INDIA.  BUT V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS, SOME 
CRITICS SAYS THE STUDY ISN'T CRITICAL ENOUGH.

TEXT:  RETIRED ADMIRAL DAVID JEREMIAH HEADED THE PANEL 
INVESTIGATING THE INTELLIGENCE FAILURES ON INDIA. HE SAYS U-S 
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES DID  NOT  PREDICT INDIAN NUCLEAR TESTS 
BECAUSE THEY ASSUMED THINGS WORK IN INDIA MUCH AS THEY DO IN 
AMERICA.

                      /// JEREMIAH ACT ///

         FIRST OF ALL, WE HAD A MIND SET THAT SAID EVERYBODY ELSE
         IS GOING TO WORK LIKE WE WORK.  WHY WOULD ANYONE THROW 
         AWAY THE ECONOMIC ADVANTAGES THAT THEY WOULD LOSE WITH 
         TESTING?  WHY WOULD THEY HAZARD ALL THAT STUFF, WHEN 
         THERE IS NO REASON TO DO THAT? WE DON'T THINK LIKE THE 
         OTHER NATION THINKS.  WHAT DRIVES THEM?  WHAT ARE THEIR 
         NATIONAL SECURITY REQUIREMENTS. WHAT DOES THEIR NATIONAL
         PRIDE DRIVE THEM TO DO?

                         /// END ACT ///

ADMIRAL JEREMIAH SAYS THE INDIAN TESTS CAME AT A TIME WHEN THERE 
WERE TENSIONS IN MANY AREAS OF THE WORLD.  ALL WERE "CLAMORING 
FOR ATTENTION" FROM U-S SATELLITES AND SPIES AND THE PEOPLE WHO 
INTERPRET THE INFORMATION THEY COLLECT.

THE ADMIRAL URGES INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES TO DO A BETTER JOB OF 
PUTTING  RESOURCES WHERE THEY ARE MOST NEEDED.  HE SAYS THEY MUST
ALSO GET AGENCY EXPERTS TO SHARE INFORMATION MORE EFFECTIVELY, 
AND TALK TO MORE EXPERTS OUTSIDE THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.

ADMIRAL JEREMIAH DELIVERED HIS REPORT TO A CLOSED MEETING OF THE 
SENATE COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.  
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN RICHARD SHELBY SAYS THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE 
AGENCY AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE GOT TO DO BETTER.

                       /// SHELBY ACT ///

         SOMEBODY DIDN'T PUT THE EMPHASIS ON THE (INDIAN) 
         SUBCONTINENT AFTER THE RULING PARTY, THE NATIONALIST 
         PARTY CAME TO POWER AND TELEGRAPHED THAT (MADE ITS 
         INTENTION TO TEST VERY CLEAR).  THERE ARE SOME FAILURES 
         ALL ALONG.  I THINK SOME OF THEM ARE POLICY.  BUT 
         ULTIMATELY IT IS UP TO THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY TO PUT
         IT TOGETHER.

                         /// END ACT ///

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY DIRECTOR GEORGE TENET SAYS HE WILL 
MOVE QUICKLY TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES SUGGESTED IN THE JEREMIAH 
REPORT.  BUT WHILE THE SPY CHIEF SAYS THERE ARE LESSONS TO BE 
LEARNED FROM THIS FAILURE --  NO ONE WILL BE FIRED FOR THE 
MISTAKES.

                        /// REST OPT ///

BUT FOREIGN POLICY EXPERT ARNAUD (PRONO: ARNO) DE BORCHGRAVE OF 
THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES IN WASHINGTON,
SAYS THIS IS MORE THAN JUST AN INTELLIGENCE FAILURE -- IT IS AN 
EMBARRASSMENT.  HE SAYS ACTIVITIES BY INDIA'S NEIGHBORS CHINA, 
PAKISTAN AND IRAN CONCERNED INDIAN LEADERS, AND PROMPTED THEM TO 
MOVE TOWARD WEAPONS TESTS.  HE SAYS THESE CONCERNS SHOULD HAVE 
BEEN OBVIOUS TO AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE.  (SIGNED).

NEB/JR/WDC/JO  

02-Jun-98 7:02 PM EDT (2302 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.