tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post6344617436355913352..comments2023-11-03T09:36:22.100-04:00Comments on In From the Cold: Tug of War, Part IIGeorge Smileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07049707648660651119noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-10119766027021768932007-05-07T23:27:00.000-04:002007-05-07T23:27:00.000-04:00While MSIC has, over the last several years, attem...While MSIC has, over the last several years, attempted to move functions from NASIC to Huntsville, the effort took on a new emphasis following the defeat of former Senator Mike DeWine in last November’s election. Insiders state that contractors that work closely with MSIC were called to a meeting with some of the Alabama Delegation shortly after the November election and informed that MSIC efforts to acquire missions areas from NASIC would be expanded to include areas other than ballistic missiles.<BR/> <BR/>One of these areas targeted for acquisition is another NASIC core mission - the analysis of threats to US satellites systems and operations (called counterspace threat inside the government). NASIC has been the recognized intelligence community leader in the counterspace threat mission area since the mid 1990s.<BR/> <BR/>Over the last six months, the Defense Intelligence Agency has begun to move portions of NASIC’s counterspace threat mission to other defense intelligence organizations – most notably MSIC. The same concerns and points raised in the letter to LtGen Maples by Ohio Congressional members regarding NASIC ballistic missile work have also be discussed in both open and closed Congressional committee hearings related to the counterspace threat mission area. (For example, see the transcript for the HASC Strategic Forces Subcommittee Hearing for Friday, March 23, 2007 – 9:00 am – 2212 Rayburn on Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Budget Request and the status of space activities – specifically Congressman Turner’s questions.)<BR/><BR/>NASIC was the agency briefing Legislative and Executive Branch members before the events of Jan 11th, as well as countless times since then. <BR/><BR/>As is the case for the ballistic missile analysis battle, DIA's motivations are not based on NASIC's performance, expertise, or capabilities, but based on political nepotism. (By the way, NASIC has over 50 people working counterspace FULLTIME, while MSIC has less than 10). Given the contested nature of space and the absolutely critical nature of US space systems to US national interests, this proposed movement of counterspace intelligence responsiblities is extremely dangerous and could lead to one or more major intelligence failures.A DC readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02246624291687823035noreply@blogger.com