...last four years has been FratBoy and "Big-time" Dick. The only way that anyone could possibly believe that our intelligence agencies failed us is if they believe the information being reported by the captive mainstream media as fed to it by the NeoCons.
Intelligence is only as good as the people willing to listen to what they're being told, and then be willing to ACT on that information.
In response to your "TWO massive failures of intelligence", I offer the following:
1. While I agree with you that 911 was LIHOP/MIHOP, I don't agree that the CIA is to blame. Richard Clarke tells us in his book that Tenet was beside himself with worry about an impending terrorist attack in the months leading up to 911. Tenet personally, and repeatedly, warned the NeoCons-in-Charge to no avail.
2. In regards to Iraq, look no farther than the newly-created, Pentagon-based, NeoCon OSP, the so-called "intelligence organization" that took the incoming intelligence from the CIA and other agencies and tailored that information to justify the invasion of Iraq. The CIA and Tenet had strongly advised FratBoy not to use any mention of Iraqi WMDs in his State of the Union address, because that charge could not be substantiated by CIA analysts. Additionally, the CIA and Tenet strongly advised Powell not to use any mention of Iraqi WMDs in his speech to the UN, because again, that charge could not be substantiated by CIA analysts.
In regards to your comments about a National Intelligence Chief, the NeoCons desperately WANT such a person reporting at the cabinet level. Once that person was installed, the NeoCons would truly have control of the nation's intelligence-gathering activities, and HOW that data would be reported to the American people. Any dissent from the NeoCon line of thinking would be controlled and buried at the lower levels of such a monolithic organization. Additionally, we ALREADY have a Director of Central Intelligence who acts as head of the U. S. intelligence community:
<
http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/dcid1-1.htm>
Director of Central Intelligence Directive 1/1
The Authorities and Responsibilities of
the Director of Central Intelligence
as Head of the U.S. Intelligence Community
(Effective 19 November 1998) Excerpt:
"(1) The Director of Central Intelligence serves as head of the United States Intelligence Community; acts as the principal advisor to the President for intelligence matters related to the national security; and serves as the head of the Central Intelligence Agency. (NSA §102(a); 50 USC 403(a); see also, E.O. 12333, §1.5(a).)
(2) To the extent recommended by the National Security Council and approved by the President, the DCI shall have access to all intelligence related to the national security which is collected by any department, agency or other entity of the United States. (NSA §104(a); 50 USC 403-4(a).)
(3) The heads of all Executive Branch departments and agencies shall, in accordance with law and relevant procedures approved by the Attorney General, give the DCI access to all information relevant to the national intelligence needs of the United States, and shall give due consideration to requests from the Director for appropriate support for Intelligence Community activities. (E.O. 12333, § 1.6(a).)"