Trusted intelligence

In May 2015 the watchdog group Judicial Watch published declassified Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) reports from 2012. In one of these reports the DIA experts proposed that if ISIS governed an area in eastern Syria ISIS it could be a valuable asset in the Mideast to the U.S. However, the DIA said, "ISI COULD ALSO DECLARE AN ISLAMIC STATE THROUGH ITS UNION WITH OTHER TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS IN IRAQ AND SYRIA, WHICH WILL CREATE GRAVE DANGER IN REGARDS TO UNIFYING IRAQ AND THE PROTECTION OF ITS TERRITORY."

This report did not fit into the narrative that was U.S. policy, and it was discounted or ignored. ISIS was regarded as a minor player amongst the anti-government elements in the Syrian civil war.

Our politicians, military, and intelligence agencies have a history of adapting intelligence to fit the political goals of the U.S. government. In the early years of the Vietnam War intelligence was tailored to fit the goals of the Johnson administration. This behavior was repeated in the build up to the invasion of Iraq and during the first months of the occupation of Iraq. If the actual situations in war really do fit into the politics then the intelligence personnel will be praised for providing invaluable help in defeating an enemy.

When intelligence is corrupted it can cause tactical mistakes which result in military casualties. We have also seen government officials giving press releases which are tailored to show success in meeting the stated goals. President Obama this week stated, "We can't make good policy unless we've got good, accurate, hard-headed, clear-eyed intelligenceÂ…"The President also stated that intelligence agencies may interpret intelligence differently and the opposing conclusions should be presented to decision makers.

On Oct. 22 USA Today reported that one example of tailored intelligence was when "intelligence analysts reported on the retreat of Iraqi forces in the face of the Islamic State takeover of parts of northwestern Iraq. But those reports were softened to put the fight in a more optimistic light, saying the Iraqi forces merely 'redeployed'."

These situations where the truth is sacrificed for image have cost the lives of too many troops. They must end.

Jack Dragoni attended Boston College and served in the U.S. Army in Berlin and Vietnam. He resides in Chaffee, Missouri.