washington officials u.s. military central command oversee combat operations middle east south asia much likely counterparts elsewhere believe superiors distort suppress analyse accord government intelligence survey result december 2015 survey likely reinforce question congress elsewhere whether administration pressure officials make over-optimistic claim progress islamic state taliban help u.s. president barack obama leave office january high note office director national intelligence odni survey report one main topics house intelligence committee hear thursday one strike find 36 percent central command officials survey say confident mid- senior-level managers deliberately distort suppress analyse average eight u.s. military command include pacific africa europe 72 percent central command direct american military missions afghanistan iraq syria elsewhere middle east south asia analysts typically assess intelligence potential target bomb enemy strength ask anyone attempt distort suppress analysis work face persuasive evidence 40 percent centcom respondents say yes compare average 13 percent survey find question ask 65 percent command respondents say politicization issue data suggest respondents central command believe workplace adhere objectivity standards relatively less workplaces ic counterparts report say use acronym u.s. intelligence community outgo director national intelligence jam clapper say situation central command improve 2016 survey clapper tell congressional intelligence hear thursday centcom objectivity number similar combatant command think virtue change commanders ... change atmosphere encourage trend particularly year clapper say centcom immediately respond request comment separately clapper tell hear submit letter resignation would stay end obama administration survey conduct annually since 2006 4,000 analysts managers respond include 125 centcom analysts managers caution however responses voluntary care take broadly interpret result command officials u.s. intelligence agencies say central command issue product pressure white house senior officials play minor role administration public claim progress islamic state taliban many prove overly optimistic true officials say much central command analysis consist daily bomb damage assessments situation report strategic intelligence constitute small part material find way numerous intelligence agencies include cia national security agency president daily intelligence brief nevertheless find survey post notice last month remote part odni website likely raise question intelligence assessments provide central command early year u.s. congressional report say central command paint rosy picture fight islamic state 2014 2015 compare reality grind grim assessments analysts defense department inspector general investigate find expect issue separate report military officials say u.s. mideast intelligence analysts felt superiors distort find