Strengthening America's Clandestine Service

Friday, July 28, 2006

A CNP Panel Featuring Bruce Hoffman, Burton Gerber, and Gary Berntsen

July 28, 2006

Speaking before a packed lunchtime audience at CNP's offices on Capitol Hill, three distinguished leaders in human intelligence and counterterrorism discussed what it will take to improve America's clandestine service. At the top of their list was leadership -- both presidential and within the CIA. Good human intelligence relies on officers knowing that they are supported at the highest levels and led by qualified professionals. Investment in the right people, sustained over decades, is also essential. Unlike technical means, human intelligence officers cannot be instantaneously created, inserted, or re-deployed.

These were but a few of the many issues discussed in this CNP-sponsored policy panel. Click on the audio files below to listen to the presentations.

Hon. Tim Roemer. President of the Center for National Policy and former member of the House Select Committee on Intelligence. $FILE(40,Click here) for Rep. Roemer's introduction.

Mr. Burton Gerber. Thirty-nine year veteran of the U.S. clandestine service; former CIA Moscow station chief; author, Transforming US Intelligence. $FILE(41,Click here) for Mr. Gerber's presentation.

Mr. Gary Berntsen. Former CIA officer and commander of the “Jawbreaker” team in Afghanistan; author, Jawbreaker: The Attack on Bin Laden and Al Qaeda: A Personal Account by the CIA’s Key Field Commander. $FILE(42,Click here) for Mr. Bernsten's presentation.

Dr. Bruce Hoffman. RAND corporate chair in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency; editor in chief, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism. $FILE(39,Click here) for Dr. Hoffman's presentation.