Dr. Mark Lowenthal

will speak on

Post-9/11 Intelligence Reforms:
Are They Working and Are We Safer?

Budgets for the 17 agencies comprising our intelligence community have risen dramatically in the Post-9/11 period rising from a reported $16.3 billion in the late 1990s to the current figure of $52 billion.  With increased budgets came dramatic reforms and new missions.  But, are we safer and are reforms working?  Is the new culture of sharing information across the intelligence community under the direction of the Director of National Intelligence “connecting the dots” and detecting threats more effectively?  Has the CIA strayed too far into the world of military operations and neglected its primary role of intelligence collecting and analysis?  And perhaps most concerning, have recent revelations of the National Security Agency and FBI collecting data on American citizens crossed the line between security and civil liberties?  And how much harm has been done by recent intelligence disclosures?

Our October 24 speaker, Dr. Mark Lowenthal, is eminently qualified to address these critical questions.  Dr. Lowenthal is the President and CEO of the Intelligence & Security Academy, a national security education, training and consulting company. From 2002-2005, he served as the Assistant Director of Central Intelligence for Analysis and Production and also as the Vice Chairman for Evaluation on the National Intelligence Council. Prior to these duties, he served as Counselor to the Director of Central Intelligence. Dr. Lowenthal was the staff director of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in the 104th Congress (1995-97), where he directed the committee’s study on the future of the Intelligence Community.  He also served in the State Departments Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), as both an office director and a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State.  Dr. Lowenthal has written extensively on intelligence and national security issues, including five books and over 90 articles or studies.  His most recent book, Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy, in its 5^th edition, has become the standard college and graduate school textbook on the subject. 

Dinner choices:  Roasted pork loin with apricot sauce, Blue corn crusted tilapia, Pasta with seasonal vegetables and sauce

Next Meeting:  November 13: Dr. David Straub: Tensions on the Korean Peninsula (Skyline Country Club)

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