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The author has been a ranking member of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee since 9/11. She is the author of “Defence of Madness: Why We Don’t Stand Up with Difficult National Security Issues Make Us Safe?”
Washington was shaken this week by reports that it used President Donald Trump’s senior national security team to discuss sensitive military operations and accidentally added journalists. Political fallout is the focus of attention, but the greater danger lies overseas. Allies may question whether the United States is trustworthy with its most sensitive intelligence. That loss of trust can create dangerous blind spots in detecting threats.
We looked firsthand how intelligence failure can lead to disaster. As a ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee since 9/11, I have helped to investigate two of the most harmful breakdowns in modern history. A flawed assessment of missed warnings before the attack and Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. Since then, the intelligence community has worked hard to enhance information sharing and analytics.
But those benefits are fragile. More than a quarter of Americans were born on 9/11. For many others, the urgency of the moment is declining. Today we are once again distracted – consumed by partisan battles, economic uncertainty, political upheavals at home – our enemies are waiting to see. Can we face another major attack on American soil? My answer is yes.
From Russian cyber invasions to secret threats to Iranian US officials, to China’s growing cyberspy and geopolitical manipulation, these enemies have already exploited American vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, ISIS and Al-Qaeda remain active.
The lessons from 9/11 were painfully clear. Self-complaint can lead to catastrophe. The threat we face is real and requires critical action to prevent another attack. So, what should the US do?
First, wake up. National security is not just the job of government. We also need the informed public engaged. Americans must ask leaders to be accountable to recognize the risks we face today and to ensure that security remains a top priority.
Second, we need to double the intelligence and intelligence sharing. Five Eyes’ partnership with the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand helped to thwart terrorist conspiracy against the US. However, recent reports suggest that some allies are reevaluating their intelligence reporting cooperation with Washington. Restoring trust with allies and strengthening intelligence sharing agreements must be a domestic priority.
Third, the United States needs to strengthen key areas of federal and state response. The Department of Homeland Security was established after 9/11 to serve as an integrated defense against a wide range of threats. However, DHS has changed its focus and resources on immigration enforcement, witnessing the departure of skilled experts from IT and other national security agencies. While there is a risk of losing the institutional expertise needed to prevent terrorist attacks, resources will be diverted into expensive projects, such as the proposed “Golden Dome for America,” which cannot address today’s most urgent threats.
Fourth, Congress must return to the game. Congress must restore bipartisan leadership over intelligence and defense before another tragedy acts. Lawmakers must commit to funding critical cybersecurity and counterterrorism programs, ensuring that national security is not sacrificed due to the short-term political battle.
Finally, all elements of state power must be used. As the committee on Defense Strategy, which I chaired, emphasized, military force is not the only thing that is deterrent. We need to embrace a government-wide approach that integrates diplomacy, economic strategy, intelligence and technological innovation, as well as partners and allies.
I have vivid memories of walking towards the US Capitol on the morning of September 11th. I don’t know that the building is the intended target of United Flight 93. Only the selfless actions of passengers and crews prevented attacks and sacrificed lives to save others. At the time, the Capitol housed the Senate and House Intelligence Email Committee, which operated on a bipartisan basis and united its mission to protect the country.
Now, over 20 years later, we face the risk of new warnings and intelligence breakdowns than sharing sensitive plans with uncategorized messaging apps. The question is to repeat our mistakes or, worse still, make even bigger errors?
