Considering the Creation of a Domestic Intelligence Agency in the United States, 2009: Lessons from the Experiences of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom

With terrorism still prominent on the U.S. agenda, whether the country’s prevention efforts match the threat the United States faces continues to be central in policy debate. Does the country need a dedicated domestic intelligence agency? Case studies of five other democracies–Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the UK–provide lessons and common themes that may help policymakers decide.