Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The United States was determined to be losing its intelligence capabilities.

In a report, the National Commission for the Review of the Research and Development Programs of the United States Intelligence Community determined that the nation’s 16 spy agencies have been hampered by disorganization and needless competition, particularly in the area of research and development.

“The commission found that there is inadequate [research and development] planning and inadequate awareness,” the unclassified version of the report said.

The 37-page report, based on a two-year effort, said U.S. rivals were gaining advantage over Washington, partly by stealing American technology. The commission said the intelligence community was investing heavily in cyber-attack capabilities while failing to coordinate on R&D.

“Foreign countries’ growing expertise and proficiency in a number of emerging or potentially disruptive technologies and industries — gained either by improving their own capabilities, by using surreptitious methods, or by taking advantage of an erosion of U.S. capabilities and U.S. control over critical supply chains — have the potential to cause great harm to the national security of the United States and its allies,” the report said.

The heavily-redacted report, which referred only to China, said the
intelligence community was struggling to understand non-military
programs by U.S. adversaries. The commission called for “comprehensive”
strategic scientific and technical intelligence as part of planning and
resource allocation.

“The commission found a limited effort by the IC [intelligence
community] to discern and exploit the strategic R&D — especially
non-military R&D — intentions and capabilities of our adversaries, and to counter our adversaries’ theft or purchase of U.S. technology,” the report said.

The commission urged the U.S. intelligence community to intensify
efforts for scientific and technical means as well as improve coordination
and management. The panel also recommended ways to accelerate the production
of what the report termed “actionable intelligence.”

“The increasing pace and adoption of global scientific and technological
discovery heighten the risk of strategic or tactical surprise and, over
time, reduce the advantages of our intelligence capabilities,” the report said.

  “inadequate awareness”, better R&D, cyber-attack capabilities, National Commission for the Review of Research and Development Programs of the United States Intelligence Coummunity, R&D sags, Report: American intel losing its edge as enemies steal U.S. tech