A resolution recognizing the Defense Intelligence Agency on its 50th Anniversary.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a resolution honoring the Defense Intelligence Agency on the occasion of its 50th anniversary this year.

I am joined by Senators Chambliss, Warner, Mikulski, Rubio, Burr, Snowe, Bill Nelson, Rockefeller, Blunt, Risch, Levin, McCain, and Shelby on this resolution and I would like to thank them for their support.

Created in 1961, the Defense Intelligence Agency, known as ``DIA,'' provides intelligence on important national security questions such as foreign military intentions and capabilities. The agency supports military commanders and policymakers throughout the U.S. Government.

In fact, as Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I regularly review DIA intelligence products. The DIA produces a daily set of classified intelligence products, called

the Defense Intelligence Digest, which is provided to our Committee each morning. The agency also produces longer reports on foreign military capabilities, strategic reviews, and other issues of interest to defense and other policymakers.

But producing finished intelligence analysis is only one of DIA's missions. Employing a diverse workforce of military and civilian intelligence professionals, DIA conducts all-source analysis, intelligence collection, and information technology infrastructure support worldwide.

DIA's responsibilities inside the Department of Defense and across the Intelligence Community have grown significantly over the years. The agency today is responsible for the Defense Attache System, the Defense Counterintelligence and HUMINT Center, the National Defense Intelligence College, the National Media Exploitation Center, the National Center for Credibility Assessment and four specialized centers: the Underground Facility Analysis Center, the National Center for Medical Intelligence, the Joint Intelligence Task Force-Combating Terrorism and the Missile and Space Intelligence Center.

DIA also oversees intelligence analysis throughout the Department of Defense, including analytic work performed at the Army National Ground Intelligence Center, the Office of Naval Intelligence, the Air Force National Air and the Space Intelligence Center, the Marine Corps Intelligence Activity, and ten U.S. combatant command intelligence operations centers.

Over the last 50 years, the intelligence collected and analyzed by the men and women of DIA has informed the Nation's civilian and military leaders during crises and conflicts--from the Cold War to the current struggle against international terrorism. DIA has played a vital role in collecting, analyzing, and producing intelligence required to defend the Nation while also supporting U.S. military operations worldwide.

During the past 5 decades, DIA has transformed in response to evolving national security threats. From the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam conflict, to the first Gulf War, DIA's efforts have focused on understanding and, if necessary, defeating state-sponsored militaries while also providing strategic warning and preventing strategic surprise.

Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington almost ten years ago, DIA has responded to the asymmetric threat posed by transnational terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda by pushing more analytic and collection capabilities forward in direct support of our military forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. Today the agency is more forward deployed with soldiers on the battlefield than at any time in its history.

As Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I receive frequent briefings from DIA personnel. Their depth of knowledge and expertise on foreign military intentions and capabilities has been impressive.

I've met twice within the past few weeks with the current DIA Director, Lieutenant General Ronald Burgess. He, like his predecessors, presents the facts like he sees them and manages to serve the Intelligence Community and the Department of Defense with skill and integrity.

I am keenly aware of the many sacrifices our intelligence professionals make to help defend our Nation and I am pleased that this resolution pays tribute to the DIA workforce and the DIA employees who have given their lives, or have been wounded or injured, in the line of service.

Because of the nature of intelligence and the need for secrecy, we in Congress often are understandably reluctant to draw unnecessary attention to our intelligence services and the vital and sometimes dangerous work they do to protect our Nation. However, at this important 50th anniversary, it is appropriate to reflect on DIA's history of important contributions while also honoring its professionals, past and present.

I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the men and women of DIA as they celebrate their legacy and forge their future.

Mr. President, I rise today to talk about the Defense Intelligence Agency and a resolution that Chairman Feinstein and I have introduced in honor of DIA's 50th Anniversary. The Defense Intelligence Agency is an integral part of the Department of Defense, our combatant commands, and the intelligence community. I want to congratulate the Agency and its employees on the approaching 50th Anniversary.

The Defense Intelligence Agency was established in 1961 under Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara following a national debate on defense reorganization after World War II. McNamara, acting on recommendations of a Joint Study Group appointed by President Eisenhower, created the DIA to consolidate and integrate military intelligence efforts. DIA began operations on October 1, 1961 with only a handful of employees in borrowed office space in the Pentagon.

Shortly after its inception, DIA was thrust into the Cold War where DIA's analysts played a key role in the discovery of ballistic missiles in Cuba. However, the fledgling agency faced several early hurdles in the 60's including the Vietnam War and the Soviet Union's invasion of Czechoslovakia. In the 70's and 80's, DIA focused much of its attention on providing intelligence on the Soviet Union, but was finally coming of age as it was assigned support responsibilities to our combatant commanders under the Goldwater-Nichols Defense Reorganization Act. The 90's brought Operation DESERT STORM and bolstered DIA's mission as a Combat Support Agency with U.S. and United Nations forces in places such as Somalia, Rwanda, former Yugoslavia, and Kosovo.

The emergence of radical Islamic movements such as al-Qaida and the terrorist attacks of September 11th have ushered in a new era of integration and cooperation in military intelligence. The intelligence community has faced significant challenges and reorganization in recent years, but DIA has stepped up to meet these challenges head-on.

DIA has worked diligently to deter, detect, and prevent acts of terror by providing intelligence to U.S. and coalition forces in support of the Global War on Terror, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Today, DIA has over 16,000 employees worldwide and has become an integral part of the Department of Defense and the intelligence community. I want to thank them for their service to our country and all that they do for our warfighters, planners, and policymakers. I am sure that all of my colleagues will join me in congratulating them on their upcoming 50th Anniversary.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Intelligence Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 86, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table with no

intervening action or debate, and any statements be printed in the Record.