Top Intel Official: ‘The Dots Were Connected’

James Clapper / AP

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, the most senior intelligence official in the Obama administration, made a stunning claim today at a conference outside Washington, D.C. Clapper told the audience in comments first reported by Wired magazine “the dots were connected.”

Mounting Threats

U.S. receives reports of chem weapons use in Syria every day, DNI says
James Clapper, Gen. Michael Flynn / AP

The United States receives unconfirmed reports of chemical weapons use in Syria every day, the director of national intelligence testified at a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday morning.

Intercept and Defend

Pentagon speeds up missile defenses in face of growing North Korean, Iranian missile threats
AP

North Korea’s deployment of a new road-mobile missile that can hit the United States prompted the Pentagon on Friday to add more ground-based anti-missile interceptors to bases in Alaska and California, senior defense and military officials said on Friday.

The Big One

Russian government says N. Korean nuclear test used plutonium and was larger than earlier blasts
North Korean soldiers attend rally celebrating nuclear test / AP

North Korea’s third underground nuclear test last month was fueled by plutonium and was not a device that used enriched uranium, according to the Russian government.

Missile Threat

DNI says new N. Korean missile being fielded
April 2012 parade in North Korea / AP

North Korea is close to deploying a new road-mobile intercontinental missile that can threaten the United States, the director of national intelligence told Congress on Tuesday.

Politicizing the Truth

Former officials: CIA politicized intelligence on Benghazi
President Obama, Hillary Clinton, James Clapper, Susan Rice / AP, Wikimedia Commons

The CIA removed references to al Qaeda in the talking points it drafted for United States Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice in what critics say is part of a broad pattern of politicization of intelligence under the Obama administration.

The Talking Point Tiff

DNI changed CIA talking points to omit terror links
James Clapper / AP

The office of director of national intelligence James Clapper changed the CIA’s draft talking points on the Sept. 11 Benghazi terrorist attack to omit references to al Qaeda as being linked to the attack, according to a U.S. official.

Sex, Lies, and Benghazi

Focus of probe into Benghazi, Petraeus resignation shifts to Capitol Hill
AP

Senior intelligence officials and the FBI’s deputy director will face tough questioning Thursday from House and Senate intelligence committee members upset over the Obama administration’s mishandling of the Sept. 11 terror attack in Benghazi.