On April 25 the Washington Post and Associated Press reported that the Pentagon's new undersecretary of defense for intelligence, James R. Clapper, has made an intelligent recommedation: shut down the TALON program. It was meant to collect information on possible threats to U.S. military installations, but has been used to spy on peace groups and anti-military protesters. The Post article said: 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." Defense Secretary Robert Gates must make the final decision on the fate of the TALON program.