Comments on: Are you thinking through system improvements after the Xmas Terror Attack? http://ctovision.com/2010/01/are-you-thinking-through-system-improvements-after-the-xmas-terror-attack/ News, analysis and context on enterprise technology for the CTO Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:01:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: DorobekInsider: Welcome 2010 – what you may have missed while we were away « DorobekInsider.com http://ctovision.com/2010/01/are-you-thinking-through-system-improvements-after-the-xmas-terror-attack/#comment-518 DorobekInsider: Welcome 2010 – what you may have missed while we were away « DorobekInsider.com Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:48:01 +0000 http://ctovision.com/?p=1527#comment-518 [...] Bob Gourley, the former chief technology officer for the Defense Intelligence Agency and currently the CTO and founder of Crucial Point, also had an interesting post titled Are you thinking through system improvements after the Xmas Terror Attack? [...] [...] Bob Gourley, the former chief technology officer for the Defense Intelligence Agency and currently the CTO and founder of Crucial Point, also had an interesting post titled Are you thinking through system improvements after the Xmas Terror Attack? [...]

]]> By: Bob Gourley http://ctovision.com/2010/01/are-you-thinking-through-system-improvements-after-the-xmas-terror-attack/#comment-5011 Bob Gourley Sun, 03 Jan 2010 11:34:00 +0000 http://ctovision.com/?p=1527#comment-5011 John thanks much for the comments and the link to the Living Intelligence video. I also agree, of course, that Congress needs to look at itself. I hear the number of committees with DHS oversight is 88? No one wants to give up any power so there is no motivation to make things better there. That probably contributes to poor funding decision-making. John thanks much for the comments and the link to the Living Intelligence video. I also agree, of course, that Congress needs to look at itself. I hear the number of committees with DHS oversight is 88? No one wants to give up any power so there is no motivation to make things better there. That probably contributes to poor funding decision-making.

]]> By: Bob Gourley http://ctovision.com/2010/01/are-you-thinking-through-system-improvements-after-the-xmas-terror-attack/#comment-5010 Bob Gourley Sun, 03 Jan 2010 11:31:00 +0000 http://ctovision.com/?p=1527#comment-5010 Jeffrey thanks for the comment and the link. I enjoyed reading your post and I think you bring out some great points about the real way to deal with this, by applying smart humans to the problem. Jeffrey thanks for the comment and the link. I enjoyed reading your post and I think you bring out some great points about the real way to deal with this, by applying smart humans to the problem.

]]> By: John Bordeaux http://ctovision.com/2010/01/are-you-thinking-through-system-improvements-after-the-xmas-terror-attack/#comment-5009 John Bordeaux Sun, 03 Jan 2010 11:16:00 +0000 http://ctovision.com/?p=1527#comment-5009 Not only do I agree, but other countries are doing this - and segments within the IC are doing this. Intellipedia, with the outstanding upgrades suggested in Living Intellligence (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbgQ1V2BLEs), could be the start of an organic approach to 'databases.' Singapore (read Thomas Quinlan's "Seeing the Invisible") has a holistic approach devoted to sensing and propagating 'weak signals' in the information environment (Rapid Assessment Horizon Scanning) instead of some outmoded counter-terrorism 'database.' Old notions of databases, centralized 'integration centers,' and single portals have been eclipsed by the problem and visionaries who get it. Instead, the U.S. stumbles on: sticking to 30 year-old-notions of "getting the right info to the right person" nonsense - as if a Command Center knew what was relevant for every stakeholder; believing a single "integration" activity sitting outside the market of intelligence agencies will 'bring it all together;' procuring Agency-specific IT and then trusting in the kindness of strangers to somehow 'bring it all together,' etc. Oh, and let's not forget our friends in Congress: de-funding the only program dedicated to redesigning the national security system, the Project on National Security Reform. Over two years in existence, with a Who's Who advisory council, who have issued solid recommendations about addressing the real reasons for system failure. Zero'd out in this year's budget. We won't be lucky forever. I wonder if we'll learn in time. There are voices and heroes who knew before Christmas that the system was in failure. When will someone at the Deputies level have the courage to listen? Or will we always be more comfortable pointing the finger at a 'sister' agency? Who sleeps well at night knowing they successfully passed the blame to a fellow American? Not only do I agree, but other countries are doing this – and segments within the IC are doing this. Intellipedia, with the outstanding upgrades suggested in Living Intellligence (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbgQ1V2BLEs), could be the start of an organic approach to ‘databases.’ Singapore (read Thomas Quinlan’s “Seeing the Invisible”) has a holistic approach devoted to sensing and propagating ‘weak signals’ in the information environment (Rapid Assessment Horizon Scanning) instead of some outmoded counter-terrorism ‘database.’ Old notions of databases, centralized ‘integration centers,’ and single portals have been eclipsed by the problem and visionaries who get it.

Instead, the U.S. stumbles on: sticking to 30 year-old-notions of “getting the right info to the right person” nonsense – as if a Command Center knew what was relevant for every stakeholder; believing a single “integration” activity sitting outside the market of intelligence agencies will ‘bring it all together;’ procuring Agency-specific IT and then trusting in the kindness of strangers to somehow ‘bring it all together,’ etc.

Oh, and let’s not forget our friends in Congress: de-funding the only program dedicated to redesigning the national security system, the Project on National Security Reform. Over two years in existence, with a Who’s Who advisory council, who have issued solid recommendations about addressing the real reasons for system failure. Zero’d out in this year’s budget.

We won’t be lucky forever. I wonder if we’ll learn in time. There are voices and heroes who knew before Christmas that the system was in failure. When will someone at the Deputies level have the courage to listen? Or will we always be more comfortable pointing the finger at a ‘sister’ agency? Who sleeps well at night knowing they successfully passed the blame to a fellow American?

]]> By: Jeffrey Carr http://ctovision.com/2010/01/are-you-thinking-through-system-improvements-after-the-xmas-terror-attack/#comment-519 Jeffrey Carr Sun, 03 Jan 2010 09:57:19 +0000 http://ctovision.com/?p=1527#comment-519 Hi Bob,Jeff Jonas is one of the shining beacons of innovation living today in my view. Thanks for linking to his posts. For what its worth, my contribution (which I've named Perpetual Threat Analysis) to solving the airport screening process can be read here: <a href="http://bit.ly/5kVwu7" rel="nofollow">http://bit.ly/5kVwu7</a> Hi Bob,Jeff Jonas is one of the shining beacons of innovation living today in my view. Thanks for linking to his posts. For what its worth, my contribution (which I've named Perpetual Threat Analysis) to solving the airport screening process can be read here: http://bit.ly/5kVwu7

]]> By: Jeffrey Carr http://ctovision.com/2010/01/are-you-thinking-through-system-improvements-after-the-xmas-terror-attack/#comment-5008 Jeffrey Carr Sun, 03 Jan 2010 09:57:00 +0000 http://ctovision.com/?p=1527#comment-5008 Hi Bob,Jeff Jonas is one of the shining beacons of innovation living today in my view. Thanks for linking to his posts. For what its worth, my contribution (which I've named Perpetual Threat Analysis) to solving the airport screening process can be read here: http://bit.ly/5kVwu7 Hi Bob,Jeff Jonas is one of the shining beacons of innovation living today in my view. Thanks for linking to his posts. For what its worth, my contribution (which I’ve named Perpetual Threat Analysis) to solving the airport screening process can be read here: http://bit.ly/5kVwu7

]]> By: ctovision http://ctovision.com/2010/01/are-you-thinking-through-system-improvements-after-the-xmas-terror-attack/#comment-517 ctovision Sun, 03 Jan 2010 04:34:46 +0000 http://ctovision.com/?p=1527#comment-517 John thanks much for the comments and the link to the Living Intelligence video. I also agree, of course, that Congress needs to look at itself. I hear the number of committees with DHS oversight is 88? No one wants to give up any power so there is no motivation to make things better there. That probably contributes to poor funding decision-making. John thanks much for the comments and the link to the Living Intelligence video. I also agree, of course, that Congress needs to look at itself. I hear the number of committees with DHS oversight is 88? No one wants to give up any power so there is no motivation to make things better there. That probably contributes to poor funding decision-making.

]]> By: ctovision http://ctovision.com/2010/01/are-you-thinking-through-system-improvements-after-the-xmas-terror-attack/#comment-522 ctovision Sun, 03 Jan 2010 04:34:46 +0000 http://ctovision.com/?p=1527#comment-522 John thanks much for the comments and the link to the Living Intelligence video. I also agree, of course, that Congress needs to look at itself. I hear the number of committees with DHS oversight is 88? No one wants to give up any power so there is no motivation to make things better there. That probably contributes to poor funding decision-making. John thanks much for the comments and the link to the Living Intelligence video. I also agree, of course, that Congress needs to look at itself. I hear the number of committees with DHS oversight is 88? No one wants to give up any power so there is no motivation to make things better there. That probably contributes to poor funding decision-making.

]]> By: ctovision http://ctovision.com/2010/01/are-you-thinking-through-system-improvements-after-the-xmas-terror-attack/#comment-520 ctovision Sun, 03 Jan 2010 04:31:33 +0000 http://ctovision.com/?p=1527#comment-520 Jeffrey thanks for the comment and the link. I enjoyed reading your post and I think you bring out some great points about the real way to deal with this, by applying smart humans to the problem. Jeffrey thanks for the comment and the link. I enjoyed reading your post and I think you bring out some great points about the real way to deal with this, by applying smart humans to the problem.

]]> By: John Bordeaux http://ctovision.com/2010/01/are-you-thinking-through-system-improvements-after-the-xmas-terror-attack/#comment-521 John Bordeaux Sun, 03 Jan 2010 04:16:00 +0000 http://ctovision.com/?p=1527#comment-521 Not only do I agree, but other countries are doing this - and segments within the IC are doing this. Intellipedia, with the outstanding upgrades suggested in Living Intellligence (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbgQ1V2BLEs" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbgQ1V2BLEs</a>), could be the start of an organic approach to 'databases.' Singapore (read Thomas Quinlan's "Seeing the Invisible") has a holistic approach devoted to sensing and propagating 'weak signals' in the information environment (Rapid Assessment Horizon Scanning) instead of some outmoded counter-terrorism 'database.' Old notions of databases, centralized 'integration centers,' and single portals have been eclipsed by the problem and visionaries who get it. Instead, the U.S. stumbles on: sticking to 30 year-old-notions of "getting the right info to the right person" nonsense - as if a Command Center knew what was relevant for every stakeholder; believing a single "integration" activity sitting outside the market of intelligence agencies will 'bring it all together;' procuring Agency-specific IT and then trusting in the kindness of strangers to somehow 'bring it all together,' etc. Oh, and let's not forget our friends in Congress: de-funding the only program dedicated to redesigning the national security system, the Project on National Security Reform. Over two years in existence, with a Who's Who advisory council, who have issued solid recommendations about addressing the real reasons for system failure. Zero'd out in this year's budget.We won't be lucky forever. I wonder if we'll learn in time. There are voices and heroes who knew before Christmas that the system was in failure. When will someone at the Deputies level have the courage to listen? Or will we always be more comfortable pointing the finger at a 'sister' agency? Who sleeps well at night knowing they successfully passed the blame to a fellow American? Not only do I agree, but other countries are doing this – and segments within the IC are doing this. Intellipedia, with the outstanding upgrades suggested in Living Intellligence (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbgQ1V2BLEs), could be the start of an organic approach to 'databases.' Singapore (read Thomas Quinlan's "Seeing the Invisible") has a holistic approach devoted to sensing and propagating 'weak signals' in the information environment (Rapid Assessment Horizon Scanning) instead of some outmoded counter-terrorism 'database.' Old notions of databases, centralized 'integration centers,' and single portals have been eclipsed by the problem and visionaries who get it. Instead, the U.S. stumbles on: sticking to 30 year-old-notions of "getting the right info to the right person" nonsense – as if a Command Center knew what was relevant for every stakeholder; believing a single "integration" activity sitting outside the market of intelligence agencies will 'bring it all together;' procuring Agency-specific IT and then trusting in the kindness of strangers to somehow 'bring it all together,' etc. Oh, and let's not forget our friends in Congress: de-funding the only program dedicated to redesigning the national security system, the Project on National Security Reform. Over two years in existence, with a Who's Who advisory council, who have issued solid recommendations about addressing the real reasons for system failure. Zero'd out in this year's budget.We won't be lucky forever. I wonder if we'll learn in time. There are voices and heroes who knew before Christmas that the system was in failure. When will someone at the Deputies level have the courage to listen? Or will we always be more comfortable pointing the finger at a 'sister' agency? Who sleeps well at night knowing they successfully passed the blame to a fellow American?

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