Pentagon to End Talon Data-Gathering Program, By Walter Pincus, Washington Post Staff Writer

Less than two weeks after being sworn in as undersecretary of defense for intelligence, James R. Clapper Jr. is moving to end the controversial Talon electronic data program [Threat and Local Observation Notices], which collected and circulated unverified reports about people and organizations that allegedly threaten Defense Department facilities. …

Talon, launched in 2003 with an eye toward Sept. 11, 2001, came under public scrutiny in December 2005 with the disclosure that it had collected data on anti-military protesters and peaceful demonstrators. More recently, the American Civil Liberties Union released an internal Pentagon report showing that, as of 18 months ago, Talon had about 13,000 entries, of which 2,821 involved reports on U.S. citizens. …

In answer to questions before his confirmation hearing, Clapper, who has worked for 43 years within military intelligence, said: “The history of the intelligence community is replete with instances of abuse of civil liberties — well intended, but abuse nonetheless.” He said it is “important that the proper balance be struck between the counterintelligence mission, on one hand, and the protection of civil liberties, on the other.” …

The agency’s size and budget are classified, but congressional sources have said that CIFA [Counterintelligence Field Activity, which was established in September 2002 by then-Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul D. Wolfowitz] had spent more than $1 billion through last October. One counterintelligence official at that time estimated that CIFA had 400 full-time employees and 800 to 900 contractors working for it.