Haley Stevens: “I have now served with 11 Directors of Intelligence during my tenure as a Senator. I think I have known each of them…”

“I have now served with 11 Directors of Intelligence during my tenure as a Senator. I think I have known each of them personally. In fact, my roots in connection with the intelligence process go back to World War II when I flew an OSS plane into China frequently, and I have had a great deal of interest in the CIA and its operations. I have learned in that timespan that intelligence--good intelligence--is essential to force projection and protection of our Nation. Unfortunately, we cannot publish a list of the numerous occasions in which men and women in the intelligence community have literally saved the lives of U.S. military and civilian personnel. Sometimes I wish we could tell the whole story. It would put into better perspective the few mistakes the intelligence community sometimes makes. However, mistakes in interpreting intelligence data can and will be made. The CIA has not often admitted blame for serious mistakes. Taking responsibility has not been their strong suit in the past, and I have not always been happy with the information the CIA has produced. In working with the intelligence chief, George Tenet, to fully disclose information we have needed to determine proper funding levels in our Appropriations Committee for programs and projects he oversees, I can assure the Senate he has always been fair, just, and open with us.”