Intelligence Authorization Bill Held Up by Spy Satellite Issue

It is somewhat befuddling how an NRO buy of satellites that are less expensive and less sophisticated can be reasonably called "untested and therefore riskier."

If you want to say it’s riskier because our security needs mandate we have a mix of satellites including some that provide exquisite capabilities which the Senate bill (and the less expensive satellites cannot provide) does not allow for, I can see that, but I don't think that's the assertion being made.

GeoEye? DigitalGlobe? Radarsat (just kidding...a little).

Massive NRO Growth?

DoD Buzz reports on some of the fall-out of the DNI-directed Obering panel as it affects the NRO. Besides the options of 1) maintaining the status quo and 2) rewriting the NRO charter to give it all USAF and intel community space, there is a third option.

The third option will be for the NRO to operate all U.S. military and intel space and ISR assets. If the story is true, this third option would be organizationally revolutionary. Basically, we’d be talking about a Space Corps or something approaching a U.S. Space Force.

Intel Lawmaker Urges NRO Fixes

Well, certainly no man-bites-dog story here, as the NRO has struggled mightily for the last decade or so.

The story leads by describing the NRO as a builder of satellites. Please. They are a buyer of satellites. Industry builds them.

Fade To Black For The NRO?

Colin Clark at DoD Buzz reports on the most recent blue-ribbon panel to review the NRO. While the panel has compiled their results and presented them to Dennis Blair, the DNI, it will be interesting to see if they opt for revolution or evolution. Many of the panel's members have deep ties to the NRO and the intelligence community. Regardless of the panel's recommendations, something well short of turning out the lights is likely.

History certainly favors evolution over revolution, and if so, things will likely only be changed in the margins--nothing dramatic. This will be useful in deflecting sustained criticism away from the NRO from Congressional overseers, as currently embodied by the Senate Intelligence Committee and its staff and in providing some cover to make incremental changes that will enhance the NRO's effectiveness.