[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 1, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1069-S1070]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 86--RECOGNIZING THE DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY ON
ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Warner, Ms. Mikulski,
Mr. Rubio, Mr. Burr, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Rockefeller,
Mr. Blunt, Mr. Risch, Mr. Levin, Mr. McCain, and Mr. Shelby) submitted
the following resolution; which was referred to the Select Committee on
Intelligence:
S. Res. 86
Whereas, the Defense Intelligence Agency was created in
1961 as the United States lead military intelligence
organization, approved by Secretary of Defense Robert
McNamara on July 5, 1961, and activated on October 1, 1961;
Whereas, with military and civilian employees worldwide,
the Defense Intelligence Agency produces military
intelligence to warfighters and policymakers in the
Department of Defense and the intelligence community, to
support United States military planning, operations, and
weapon systems acquisition;
Whereas the Defense Intelligence Agency possesses a diverse
and expeditionary workforce that conducts all-source
analysis, intelligence collection, and information technology
infrastructure support around the world;
Whereas the Defense Intelligence Agency plays a critical
role within the Department of Defense, the combatant
commands, the intelligence community, and the Defense
Intelligence Enterprise through the Defense Attache System,
Defense Counterintelligence and HUMINT Center, National
Defense Intelligence College, National Media Exploitation
Center, and National Center for Credibility Assessment;
Whereas the Defense Intelligence Agency leads the defense
all-source analytic community including the Directorate for
Analysis and four specialized centers known as the
Underground Facility Analysis Center, the National Center for
Medical Intelligence, the Joint Intelligence Task Force-
Combating Terrorism, and the Missile and Space Intelligence
Center, as well as synchronizes the analytic efforts of the
Army National Ground Intelligence Center, Office of Naval
Intelligence, Air Force National Air and Space Intelligence
Center, Marine Corps Intelligence Activity, and ten United
States combatant command intelligence centers;
Whereas the Defense Intelligence Agency has throughout its
history provided intelligence support to United States policy
makers and military commanders in both war and peacetime
during significant national security events including the
Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam conflict, the Cold War and
its aftermath, operations against state-sponsored terrorist
organizations, Operation Desert Storm, and in support of
United States military and coalition operations in Somalia,
the former Yugoslavia, and Haiti;
Whereas, since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,
the men and women of the Defense Intelligence Agency have
worked diligently to deter, detect, and prevent acts of
terror by providing intelligence support to United States and
coalition forces in support of the Global War on Terror,
Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and Operation
Iraqi Freedom; and
Whereas the Defense Intelligence Agency and subordinate
organizations within the Agency have been awarded seven Joint
Meritorious Unit Awards reflecting the distinctive
accomplishments of the personnel assigned to the Defense
Intelligence Agency: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) congratulates the men and women of the Defense
Intelligence Agency on the occasion of the Agency's 50th
Anniversary;
(2) honors the heroic sacrifice of the employees of the
Defense Intelligence Agency who have given their lives, or
have been wounded or injured, in the service of the United
States during the past 50 years; and
(3) expresses gratitude to all the men and women of the
Defense Intelligence Agency for their past and continued
efforts to provide timely and accurate intelligence support
to deliver overwhelming advantage to our warfighters, defense
planners, and defense and national security policymakers in
the defense and security of the United States.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a resolution
honoring the Defense Intelligence Agency on the occasion of its 50th
anniversary this year.
I am joined by Senators Chambliss, Warner, Mikulski, Rubio, Burr,
Snowe, Bill Nelson, Rockefeller, Blunt, Risch, Levin, McCain, and
Shelby on this resolution and I would like to thank them for their
support.
Created in 1961, the Defense Intelligence Agency, known as ``DIA,''
provides intelligence on important national security questions such as
foreign military intentions and capabilities. The agency supports
military commanders and policymakers throughout the U.S. Government.
In fact, as Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence,
I regularly review DIA intelligence products. The DIA produces a daily
set of classified intelligence products, called
[[Page S1070]]
the Defense Intelligence Digest, which is provided to our Committee
each morning. The agency also produces longer reports on foreign
military capabilities, strategic reviews, and other issues of interest
to defense and other policymakers.
But producing finished intelligence analysis is only one of DIA's
missions. Employing a diverse workforce of military and civilian
intelligence professionals, DIA conducts all-source analysis,
intelligence collection, and information technology infrastructure
support worldwide.
DIA's responsibilities inside the Department of Defense and across
the Intelligence Community have grown significantly over the years. The
agency today is responsible for the Defense Attache System, the Defense
Counterintelligence and HUMINT Center, the National Defense
Intelligence College, the National Media Exploitation Center, the
National Center for Credibility Assessment and four specialized
centers: the Underground Facility Analysis Center, the National Center
for Medical Intelligence, the Joint Intelligence Task Force-Combating
Terrorism and the Missile and Space Intelligence Center.
DIA also oversees intelligence analysis throughout the Department of
Defense, including analytic work performed at the Army National Ground
Intelligence Center, the Office of Naval Intelligence, the Air Force
National Air and the Space Intelligence Center, the Marine Corps
Intelligence Activity, and ten U.S. combatant command intelligence
operations centers.
Over the last 50 years, the intelligence collected and analyzed by
the men and women of DIA has informed the Nation's civilian and
military leaders during crises and conflicts--from the Cold War to the
current struggle against international terrorism. DIA has played a
vital role in collecting, analyzing, and producing intelligence
required to defend the Nation while also supporting U.S. military
operations worldwide.
During the past 5 decades, DIA has transformed in response to
evolving national security threats. From the Cuban Missile Crisis and
the Vietnam conflict, to the first Gulf War, DIA's efforts have focused
on understanding and, if necessary, defeating state-sponsored
militaries while also providing strategic warning and preventing
strategic surprise.
Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington almost
ten years ago, DIA has responded to the asymmetric threat posed by
transnational terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda by pushing more
analytic and collection capabilities forward in direct support of our
military forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. Today the agency
is more forward deployed with soldiers on the battlefield than at any
time in its history.
As Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I receive
frequent briefings from DIA personnel. Their depth of knowledge and
expertise on foreign military intentions and capabilities has been
impressive.
I've met twice within the past few weeks with the current DIA
Director, Lieutenant General Ronald Burgess. He, like his predecessors,
presents the facts like he sees them and manages to serve the
Intelligence Community and the Department of Defense with skill and
integrity.
I am keenly aware of the many sacrifices our intelligence
professionals make to help defend our Nation and I am pleased that this
resolution pays tribute to the DIA workforce and the DIA employees who
have given their lives, or have been wounded or injured, in the line of
service.
Because of the nature of intelligence and the need for secrecy, we in
Congress often are understandably reluctant to draw unnecessary
attention to our intelligence services and the vital and sometimes
dangerous work they do to protect our Nation. However, at this
important 50th anniversary, it is appropriate to reflect on DIA's
history of important contributions while also honoring its
professionals, past and present.
I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the men and women of
DIA as they celebrate their legacy and forge their future.
Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I rise today to talk about the Defense
Intelligence Agency and a resolution that Chairman Feinstein and I have
introduced in honor of DIA's 50th Anniversary. The Defense Intelligence
Agency is an integral part of the Department of Defense, our combatant
commands, and the intelligence community. I want to congratulate the
Agency and its employees on the approaching 50th Anniversary.
The Defense Intelligence Agency was established in 1961 under
Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara following a national debate on
defense reorganization after World War II. McNamara, acting on
recommendations of a Joint Study Group appointed by President
Eisenhower, created the DIA to consolidate and integrate military
intelligence efforts. DIA began operations on October 1, 1961 with only
a handful of employees in borrowed office space in the Pentagon.
Shortly after its inception, DIA was thrust into the Cold War where
DIA's analysts played a key role in the discovery of ballistic missiles
in Cuba. However, the fledgling agency faced several early hurdles in
the 60's including the Vietnam War and the Soviet Union's invasion of
Czechoslovakia. In the 70's and 80's, DIA focused much of its attention
on providing intelligence on the Soviet Union, but was finally coming
of age as it was assigned support responsibilities to our combatant
commanders under the Goldwater-Nichols Defense Reorganization Act. The
90's brought Operation DESERT STORM and bolstered DIA's mission as a
Combat Support Agency with U.S. and United Nations forces in places
such as Somalia, Rwanda, former Yugoslavia, and Kosovo.
The emergence of radical Islamic movements such as al-Qaida and the
terrorist attacks of September 11th have ushered in a new era of
integration and cooperation in military intelligence. The intelligence
community has faced significant challenges and reorganization in recent
years, but DIA has stepped up to meet these challenges head-on.
DIA has worked diligently to deter, detect, and prevent acts of
terror by providing intelligence to U.S. and coalition forces in
support of the Global War on Terror, Operation Enduring Freedom in
Afghanistan, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Today, DIA has over 16,000 employees worldwide and has become an
integral part of the Department of Defense and the intelligence
community. I want to thank them for their service to our country and
all that they do for our warfighters, planners, and policymakers. I am
sure that all of my colleagues will join me in congratulating them on
their upcoming 50th Anniversary.
____________________