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Bush flip-flops on intel reform
By Jeff Fleischer, MotherJones
September 8, 2004 11:30 AM
Continuing his pattern on intelligence reform, George Bush has reversed his position on how much power a national intelligence czar should have.
In his previous statements supporting the creation of a "czar" position -- as recommended by the bipartisan Sept. 11 Commission -- Bush said such a position should not come with control over the budget or hiring and firing of personnel. But he, well, flip-flopped Wednesday, telling a meeting of congressional leaders that he now supports budget authority for the national intelligence director. As the Associated Press reports:
"Under the White House plan, a new national intelligence director would be appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate and serve as the head of the intelligence community. The director would also be assisted by a new Cabinet-level Joint Intelligence Community Council, but the director would not sit in the president's Cabinet or be located in the president's executive office.
"The new director would be able to allocate and shift funds within the intelligence community. But the White House did not go as far as saying that an intelligence director would be able to unilaterally hire and fire people in the intelligence community, saying only the NID should 'have a role in the appointment of any individual to a position that heads an organization or element within the intelligence community.'"
Bush has already reversed course on the Sept. 11 Commission's mere existence, who it could call to testify and which of its recommendations should be implemented. So he could turn around on the hiring authority any day now.
- Jeff Fleischer
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This article has been made possible by the Foundation for National Progress, the Investigative Fund of Mother Jones, and gifts from generous readers like you.
© 2004 The Foundation for National Progress
By Jeff Fleischer, MotherJones
September 8, 2004 11:30 AM
Continuing his pattern on intelligence reform, George Bush has reversed his position on how much power a national intelligence czar should have.
In his previous statements supporting the creation of a "czar" position -- as recommended by the bipartisan Sept. 11 Commission -- Bush said such a position should not come with control over the budget or hiring and firing of personnel. But he, well, flip-flopped Wednesday, telling a meeting of congressional leaders that he now supports budget authority for the national intelligence director. As the Associated Press reports:
"Under the White House plan, a new national intelligence director would be appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate and serve as the head of the intelligence community. The director would also be assisted by a new Cabinet-level Joint Intelligence Community Council, but the director would not sit in the president's Cabinet or be located in the president's executive office.
"The new director would be able to allocate and shift funds within the intelligence community. But the White House did not go as far as saying that an intelligence director would be able to unilaterally hire and fire people in the intelligence community, saying only the NID should 'have a role in the appointment of any individual to a position that heads an organization or element within the intelligence community.'"
Bush has already reversed course on the Sept. 11 Commission's mere existence, who it could call to testify and which of its recommendations should be implemented. So he could turn around on the hiring authority any day now.
- Jeff Fleischer
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This article has been made possible by the Foundation for National Progress, the Investigative Fund of Mother Jones, and gifts from generous readers like you.
© 2004 The Foundation for National Progress
posted by BLONDIE at 1:29 PM
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