Tim Burger interviewed Goss shortly after the onetime CIA spy had to cede much of his power to the new director of national intelligence, John Negroponte. But Porter Goss, 66, says he now has more time to run Americas largest human intelligence agency.
Other questions and responses include:
TIME: Vice President Dick Cheney has said the Iraq insurgency is in its last throes. Is that your read?
GOSS: I think theyre not quite in the last throes, but I think they are very close to it. And I think that every day that goes by in Iraq where they have their own government and its moving forward reinforces just how radical (the insurgents) are and how unwanted they are.
TIME: Could the U.S. go to war again based on false intelligence?
GOSS: I would not agree to surmise that America has gone to war based on false intelligence. I would say that the right question is: Should America be checking out threats to America? The answer is yes. And will we find some threats were more talk than real? Yes, we will.
TIME: Could al-Qaeda hit us again?
GOSS: Yes, it could. Certainly the intent is very high. And we are trying to stay ahead of their capability. And so far, I think we have done pretty well carrying the war to them, as it were. I think thats mattered.
TIME: You have been a big critic of CIA human intelligence. What have you done to fix it?
GOSS: Were fixing it with quantity and quality. Were changing methods. Were changing systems. Were changing it from the beginning to the end, from the recruitmentthe types of people we are trying to attractto the way we bring them in, to the experience we give them in training, to the ways we get them on station or in places where they are of use to us. We are focused very much on finding ways to get our eyes and ears out and about on a global basis. And we are doing it in ways that you cant even imagine and Im not even going to slightly discuss.
TIME: How much does it hurt CIA morale to see the director lose presidential face time and the role of intel quarterback to John Negroponte?
GOSS: I would almost equate it to getting rid of a 60-lb. back sack, climbing up a big, steep trail. I suddenly feel like I am refreshed. The more you see of a President of the United States of America, the more you want to be helpful and the more you want to be very careful not to waste his or her time. And I will not be using the Presidents time frivolously.
TIME: How long do you plan to stay in this job?
GOSS: How long are we going to be at war with the terrorists? Its going to be a while. Weve got a lot to do. Were in the process of rebuilding here. I think this is our moment. Im going to be here as long as the moment lasts. And I think it is going to last a while because we have the opportunity to build.
TIME: Are you personal friends with Negroponte?
GOSS: I went to school with him. We agreed that we wouldnt talk about Yale. John and I have a pact: I wont tell if you wont tell.
TIME: Youre into organic gardening. How did that happen?
GOSS: Mrs. Goss got a little horrified after she started reading the labels on some of the processed foods. We have a farm that (uses) no pesticides, no hormones, no additivesjust compost and hard work. And we grow natural. I must say its very rewarding to see. But the problem is, the critters take half of every plant. Theyre hard to sell. We havent trained the critters yet which ones are theirs.
Story is online at: https://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1074084,00.html
Contact: Ty Trippet 212-522-3640, Nicole Willner, -0613