A Former CIA Chief on Connecting the Dots...

All too many times in the past, intelligence reports of terrorist plans--even against specific targets--have failed to prevent horrific strikes. In 1983, we had a number of reports that terrorists were targeting the U.S. Marine compound in Beirut. On Oct. 23, 1983, 241 U.S. soldiers were killed.

Intelligence reports that are detailed enough to act upon--like those that helped thwart recent plots against our embassies in Paris and Singapore--are unusual. That fact of life is frustrating to intelligence officers and Presidents.

It was inevitable that as the months passed after Sept. 11, reports, memos and speculations would be found that, in...

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