Home » Intelligence » Share More Intel With Allies

Share More Intel With Allies

By Colin Clark Monday, October 19th, 2009 11:53 pm
Posted in Intelligence, International, Policy

The United States has much to gain and lilttle to lose in sharing much more intelligence with our allies, said the Pentagon’s head of intelligence.

“There is very little risk in being more open with sharing,” Jim Clapper, undersecretary of Defense for intelligence, told a room full of roughly 1,200 intelligence practitioners and contractors at the annual Geoint conference.

The U.S. intelligence community is “now risk averse… What we need to evolve to is a risk management mode,” Clapper said, noting that the US has operational reasons to share intelligence right now. Afghanistan, he said, is “very much an international fight.”

On top of that, the U.S. stands to gain much from such sharing. “By the way, this is a two-way street since they bring a lot to the table,” he said.

Asked about such sharing, Clapper said that talks are underway with at least one ally.

“That’s a very intriguing idea and I have had discussions with one of our commonwealth allies,” he told the gathering, adding that “great advantages could accrue in partnership with our allies.”

[Full disclosure: USGIF, who put on the Geoint conference, paid our airfare and hotel so we could cover this event.]

This website uses IntenseDebate comments, but they are not currently loaded because either your browser doesn't support JavaScript, or they didn't load fast enough.

Join the Conversation

	DoesntliketoShare October 20th, 2009 at 1:40 pm Sharing with our “allies.” For those of you who were also in Kosovo, you know what “sharing” intel gets you. A lot of friendlies killed, and a lot of spies within your “friendly ranks.” Screw that, I’ll stick with with the usual intel crowd that we play with.
	Byron Skinner October 20th, 2009 at 3:24 pm Good Afternoon Doesntliketoshare, I agree with you Doesn’tliketoshare. Our “allies” freely share or sell sensitive information to any country that bellies up to the bar with the cash. As you noted about Kosovo, besides the breaches of security at the time that cost lives, the methods and descriptions of the platforms and systems were ‘SOLD” to China by the French and are now firmly instituted in PLA security training. As far as our allies can be trusted can be shown in the newest Chinese Fighter the J-10 “Vigorous Dragon”, the air frame clearly shows it Israeli heritage, the engine is Russian built, the avionics are French and German, the weapons are French and Russian that made under agreement in China. It also must be noted a breaking story in todays new regarding yet another Israeli spy scandal and again involving the transfer of information on nuclear issues to Israel. It is well know that Israel has provided (sold) nuclear technology to China and had also provided Industrial Advisors to China’s nuclear program. This is a very, very bad idea. ALLONS, Byron Skinner
	SkysoldierRecon October 21st, 2009 at 2:51 pm F-ck NATO. Except for a chosen few, let them eat cake!!
	Chief Houston October 21st, 2009 at 3:03 pm In the “Risk Management Mode”, maybe, just maybe, we have learned the lessons of the past intel sharing mistakes. What I think they, the INTEL commmunity is trying to do is to “same page” on certain aspects of our mission plan. Byron, as per your examples of the past failures show, we were screwed many times before by our Allies. I say prosecute with extreme prejudice, cut them off of any level info that can create a future threatcon. It sounds contradictory, and it is, since I am torn by the past history, yet, hope for a new approach! NATO has shown itself to be under supported in it’s combat missions by members other than the U.S..
	Leo Sr October 21st, 2009 at 3:07 pm What allies are involved here? We have historically shared military intelligence with close allies like Britain, Japan, and Australia. The problem with sharing intel with countries like Israel, China, and Russia is its ultimate use. The US would not want its intel in the Middle East to be used by Israel for targeted assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. The US would also not want its intel to be used to suppress dissident groups in China and Russia. The US is careful in what it shares with its allies (in the war on terror and anti-drug efforts where every ones goals coincides) and I don’t see a change in that policy anytime soon.
	FDO October 21st, 2009 at 3:16 pm All military and intelligence organizations have experts that specialize in this. Its call International Security or Foreign Disclosure. The problem is that most Foreign Disclosure Officers (FDO) are experienced civilian Security Specialists .…. they are intelligence professionals yes, under the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) who can and do deploy into the combat zone with the troops, but they are still “civilian” U.S. government employees in the eyes of the active duty force. The point is, no Colonel or General wants to be told how to do something by a “civilian” securty guy. The problem is not so much how to do it, but how to do it right. DoD needs to change its culture of arrogance at the higher levels and listen to the troops and specialists on the ground. This proposal is totally doable, but it all hinges on the “Generals” listening to people who are smarter than they are in this area.
	ronnie pond October 21st, 2009 at 5:47 pm “Now” this may be some of what the Ex FBI Translator that has a story in this Rag. Says. And It may be true that some of our so called DOD are pentagon Higher ups think that it is alright to divulge Some information. But they are not to careful to whom They tell apparently. And it gets to the Other side other words our enemies. May be these Guys should be checked out real good and I don’t mean Good ole Buddy System Where . On he don’t mean any harm,Hes not passing info to just any person or some one that they don’t know. Well Friend your own brother can and will sell you down the river if it pays enough money. And our Friends over seas “JUST HOW MUCH ” information have they really shared with us in the past and up to now. I understand that Israel is still being accused of Spying on its closest Friend us the “US”. I say when every one else Brings out their secrets and Buried Skeletons then we will do the same. Until then we keep our doors,deck drawers,Mouths closed!!!
	Byron Skinner October 21st, 2009 at 3:06 pm Good Morning Chief Houston, Right now, maybe it’s always has been the United States finds it self more or less alone on the world stage. Our only semi reliable allies are the English speaking countries and that because the UK has chosen not to be part of the EU. When countries that freely sell industrial and military information/technology to other countries who the United States would prefer not to be included in the loop they always hide behind their own sovereignty. Europe and to a large extent Israel have chosen to be competitive with the United States in both economic and industrial arenas that should be reason enough for the US to with hold intelligence and commercial information for these countries. ALLONS, Byron Skinner
	Chief Houston October 21st, 2009 at 10:22 pm Hello Byron, Do you think Israel has taken industrial info for it’s development of USV’s, UCAV’s or UUV’s. This was my first thought when I saw some of their control rooms for these or did we “share”? It reminds me of the advances on the F-4 Phantoms that they would not share with us, except maybe the rear view mirrors. Chief Houston
	Major Yazzie November 1st, 2009 at 3:43 am Come on guys wake up, Israel has been spying on America, stealing intel, and infiltrating and manipulating US politics & policy for their own gain for decades. Call them an ally if you will, but they can never be trusted because they are capable only of being self-serving scum. American/Israel so called US citizens have only one loyality and that’s to Israel. Leopards can’t change their spots now than can they?