[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2878-2879]
[From the U.S. 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 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.

[[Page 2879]]

  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.

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