Truth to Power: A History of the U.S. National Intelligence Council

257 Pages·2019·10.239 MB·English

by  Robert Hutchings, Gregory F. Treverton

Truth to Power

Truth to Power
A History of the U.S. National
Intelligence Council
z
Edited by
ROBERT HUTCHINGS
GREGORY F. TREVERTON

1
1
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Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Names: Hutchings, Robert L., 1946– editor. | Treverton, Gregory F., editor.
Title: Truth to power : a history of the U.S. National Intelligence Council /
edited by Robert Hutchings and Gregory F. Treverton.
Other titles: Truth to power (Oxford University Press)
Description: New York, NY, United States of America : Oxford University Press, [2019] |
Includes bibliographical references.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018035753 | ISBN 9780190940010 (pbk : alk. paper) |
9780190940003 (hc : alk. paper) | 9780190940027 (UPDF) |
9780190940034 (EPUB) | 9780190053086 (OSO)
Subjects: LCSH: National Intelligence Council (U.S.) |
Intelligence service—United States—History—20th century. |
Intelligence service—United States—History—21st century.
Classification: LCC JK468.I6 T77 2019 | DDC 327.1273—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018035753
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
Paperback printed by WebCom, Inc., Canada
Hardback printed by Bridgeport National Bindery, Inc., United States of America
To our colleagues in American intelligence, consummate non- partisan
professionals who pay a high price, not just in money but in lifestyle, to
serve their country by doing their best to speak truth to power.

Contents
Acknowledgments ix
List of Contributors xi
Introduction—R obert Hutchings 1
1. Estimative Intelligence after the Cold War: 1993– 1994—
Joseph S. Nye Jr. 23
2. Controlling Controversy: 1995– 1997—R ichard N. Cooper 42
3. A New Global Agenda: 1997– 2001—J ohn Gannon 57
4. The Trauma of 9/ 11: 2001– 2002—J ohn L. Helgerson 85
5. America at War: 2003– 2005—R obert Hutchings 105
6. New Missions, New Challenges: 2005– 2008—T homas Fingar 133
7. Intelligence Integration and Reform: 2009– 2014—
Christopher Kojm 157
8. From Afghanistan to Trump: 2014– 2017—G regory Treverton 180
Conclusion: Looking to the Next Chapter— Gregory Treverton 198
Appendix 1: Extracts from the National Security Act of 1947 209
Appendix 2: Excerpts from the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism
Prevention Act of 2004 213
List of Abbreviations 217
Bibliography 219
Index 227

Acknowledgments
This book grew out of an offhand suggestion. In November 2016, Greg
Treverton, then chairman of the National Intelligence Council, convened a
workshop that brought together past chairs and vice- chairs with the aim of
providing collective recommendations to the incoming administration. On
his way to the workshop from Austin, Robert Hutchings happened to be on
the same flight with his University of Texas colleague Alan Kuperman, who
offered the suggestion, “You ought to write a history of the NIC.” Thus was
planted an idea that took shape during the workshop. All of the last eight
chairs were there, and we got on so well that it inspired the idea of telling the
history of the NIC via the reflections and analyses of these eight chairs. To
our delight and somewhat to our surprise, all agreed to contribute chapters.
It seemed that each of us had a story that needed telling, and all of us saw the
value of producing the first- ever history of this remarkable but little- known
organization. And Hutchings, who seems alarmingly suggestible, is grateful
that Kuperman didn’t suggest instead that he kayak solo across the Atlantic.
As coeditors, our first debt of gratitude is to the other six former chairs—
Joseph Nye, Richard Cooper, John Gannon, John Helgerson, Thomas Fingar,
and Christopher Kojm— for their willingness to be included and for their
diligence in putting together the compelling chapters that make up the book.
We encouraged them to tell the story of their tenures in the style that most
suited them; we did not want to impose a common format or structure, ex-
cept to the extent that we wanted each chapter to focus on the major foreign
policy issues or challenges of the time and not simply on internal organiza-
tional matters. Working with these six friends and colleagues was a truly won-
derful experience.
We are also grateful to the individuals and organizations that provided
financial and logistical support along the way. Steve Slick, director of the
Intelligence Studies Project at the University of Texas, provided seed money