What was a major concern regarding intelligence after the USS Cole attack?

The correct answer is focused on the collection and analysis of terrorist threats, which became a paramount concern following the USS Cole attack. This incident highlighted significant gaps in intelligence regarding the operations and intentions of terrorist organizations. In the aftermath, there was a pressing need to enhance the capabilities to gather information on potential threats, identify terrorist cells, and understand their networks. The attack demonstrated that existing intelligence systems were inadequate in preventing such incidents, thereby prompting urgent reforms aimed at improving surveillance, information sharing, and the analytic processes related to threats posed by terrorism.

In the context of the other options, while financial analysis of military spending, assessment of economic sanctions, and international diplomacy strategies are important aspects of national security and foreign policy, they were not the immediate concerns that arose from the direct implications of the USS Cole attack. The focus needed to be on understanding and mitigating the specific violent actions of terrorist groups, which is why the enhancement of intelligence capabilities for addressing terrorist threats took precedence during that period.