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DNI (Clapper) defends U.S. intelligence on Ukraine
http://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2014/03/dni-defends-us-intelligence-on-ukraine-184576.htmlDirector of National Intelligence James Clapper is defending U.S. intelligence agencies' work in the days leading up to Russia's move into Crimea, denying through a spokesman that the intelligence community understated the chances of such a move.
"Reports that the Intelligence Community was caught off guard by events in Crimea are highly inaccurate," DNI spokesman Shawn Turner said in a statement Wednesday evening. "In the timeframe before the Russian incursion into Crimea, the IC’s expertise on Russian capabilities and intentions combined with our understanding of the highly dynamic environment to provide both advanced insight and warning."
The more robust defense from Clapper's office came after Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and other senators lamented the lack of warning. House Intelligence Commitee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) has been more muted in his criticism, but also signaled that some intelligence analysis was off the mark.
The full text of Turner's statement follows:
*more at link*