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Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (52727)	8/4/2004 7:22:55 AM
From: Wharf Rat	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 89467

9/11 RECOMMENDATIONS Bush's 'first step' jeered SUMANA CHATTERJEE and WARREN STROBEL Knight Ridder Newspapers WASHINGTON - President Bush's first swipe at tackling the recommendations of the Sept. 11 panel on improving America's war on terrorism drew criticism Tuesday from members of the commission and his own intelligence agencies. And the White House hinted that it might yet change its plans. On Monday, Bush endorsed the creation of a new national intelligence czar but balked at giving that person broad administrative and budgetary powers. The president also said he wanted to establish a National Counterterrorism Center to coordinate all government's counterterrorism efforts - another of the commission's proposals. Two members of the Sept. 11 commission - one a Republican and the other a Democrat - told a congressional hearing Tuesday that Bush's idea on the new intelligence director was merely a "first step" and then said its proposals were part of a system that should be accepted largely intact by the Bush administration. Officials of the CIA, FBI and Department of Homeland Security told a separate congressional panel in the Senate that the counterterrorism center could diminish the intelligence expertise of the individual agencies. The back-and-forth over how to proceed with the recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States reflects both election year politics and the turf battles that the administration's bureaucrats are currently engaged in. For instance, Bush's decision to limit the proposed intelligence chief's authority came after lobbying by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, who wanted to leave intact his department's intelligence apparatus. Currently, the Pentagon accounts for 85 percent of the nation's intelligence spending. During a briefing at the White House late Tuesday morning, Scott McClellan left open the possibility that the president would revise his view of the intelligence chief's job. McClellan said the new director would have an "awful lot of authority when it comes to the budget and personnel matters." He also noted that Congress must act on the proposal and he promised the administration would work with members on specifics. McClellan's comments came as John F. Lehman, a Republican, and Bob Kerrey, a Democrat, criticized the president's proposal. "It makes no sense at all unless (the new director) breaks up bureaucratic layers" that prevent sharing intelligence, Lehman told members of the House Government Reform Committee. Sept. 11 Commission investigators found that failure to share intelligence hindered government ability to head off the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Lehman said for a new intelligence chief to cut through the bureaucracy, he needs power over how intelligence dollars are spent. In its report released July 22, the Sept. 11 panel said the new director must have power over budgets, personnel and operations that are now spread among 15 agencies. bradenton.com