Communication Failure
In 2005, our Principal Consultant delivered a presentation concerning the missing link in technology – people. One of the case studies used related to the FBI/CIA communication failures identified in an inquiry into the September 11 attacks in the US. It was found that, prior to September 11, the FBI and CIA (and possibly other intelligence agencies), held information concerning the hijackers. There were suggestions that the FBI did not act on intelligence information warning of potential aviation related terrorist threat that it was given in July 2001 by an internal special agent. Its lack of action included failure to disseminate the information to other intelligence agencies, and to ensure that the Federal Aviation Administration had it in its databases. Other problems were case management systems that had failed to alert intelligence officers and critical electronic communications that were not prioritised.In the aftermath of the Boston bombings, similar problems may be emerging: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-01/us-probes-intelligence-leading-up-to-boston-attacks/4662406
