Study: U.S. security system still broken

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The national security system is broken and needs major changes, according to a congressionally mandated study released Monday.

The 93-page preliminary report by the Project on National Security Reform repeatedly cites the failure of Washington's national security institutions -- the Pentagon, the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Security Council and the intelligence agencies -- to work together to combat terrorism, rogue states, natural disasters and other dangers.

The report cites specific examples of where missions have faltered because of the lack of collaboration. One case mentioned is the Coalition Provincial Authority in Iraq and its effort to reconstruct and stabilize the country. PNSR Executive Director James Locher told CNN, "We needed the capabilities and expertise from many parts of the U.S. government and were not able to pull that together into an effective team to undertake that vision in Iraq."

The study identifies seven national security imperatives considered essential to a successful system and outlines how the current structure fails to meet those objectives.

It cites a litany of problems plaguing the U.S. government including: competition among agencies; failure of leadership throughout the system; a focus on day-to-day crisis management rather than long-term planning; an inflexible budgeting process; difficulties in recruiting and retaining personnel; computer systems that don't interact; and partisan turf battles in Congress.

"Without reforms to correct the system's inability to provide a unified effort and full range of capabilities, the ability to generate desired outcomes will continue to deteriorate," the report states.

A final report, expected in October, will outline recommendations for fixing the national security system, including suggested presidential directives and a new National Security Act to replace the one enacted 61 years ago. ...