ABSTRACT
The House Committee on Homeland Security wrote in its report on the Boston bombings that the committee was concerned that officials are asserting that this attack could not have been prevented, without compelling evidence to confirm. Resistance to change did not come only from intelligence agencies and their parent organizations in the executive branch; the hardest nut to crack according to the 9/11 Commission was Congress. Pointing out that eighty-eight congressional committees and subcommittees were involved in overseeing one or another aspect of homeland security, the Commission recommended the drastic streamlining of oversight in areas of intelligence and counterterrorism within Congress. In 9/11 Commission's words, Congressional oversight for intelligence and counterterrorism is now dysfunctional. In addition to creating the DNI position and that of a deputy Director of National Intelligence (DNI) as well, the law prescribed the establishment of a National Counterterrorism Center. Staffed by analysts from all intelligence agencies, the new center was charged with planning intelligence missions.
