US spies’ knowledge gaps on China, Hezbollah revealed
Leaked budget document lists blind spots on China's fighter aircraft, Hezbollah and Pakistan
The most detailed public disclosure of United States intelligence spending in history identifies a number of blackspots in US spying, including the capabilities of China's next generation fighter aircraft.
The top secret budget request for the current fiscal year was obtained by The Washington Post from the former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.
The newspaper said it was withholding most of the 178-page document at the request of government officials because "sensitive details are so pervasive" in its description of spying programmes.
The document, which shows a dominant role for the Central Intelligence Agency, identifies significant gaps in knowledge about targeted countries despite the sharp increase in spending after the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Throughout the document, US spy agencies attempt to rate their efforts in tables akin to report cards, generally citing progress but often acknowledging that only a fraction of their questions could be answered - even on the community's foremost priority, counter-terrorism.
In 2011, the budget assessment says intelligence agencies made at least "moderate progress" on 38 of their 50 top counter-terrorism gaps, the term used to describe blind spots.
