Intelligence Changes Stymied by Turf Wars

[Khephra]

Intelligence Changes Stymied by Turf Wars

JESSE J. HOLLAND

Associated Press


WASHINGTON - Congress is giving itself a month to come up with legislation restructuring the nation's intelligence apparatus, but Republican leaders acknowledge the goal may fall victim to turf disputes and lawmakers' focus on getting themselves re-elected Nov. 2.

While a group of members in both parties have united behind legislation to enact the Sept. 11 commission's recommendations unaltered, House Speaker Dennis Hastert and key Senate committee chairmen are warning against a rush to judgment.

"Four or five groups of ideas (are) out there, and I think we need to take a very serious study on all those ideas," said Hastert, R-Ill., at the end of August.

Sen. John Warner, R-Va., who as Armed Services Committee chairman oversees more than 80 percent of an intelligence budget estimated at $40 billion a year, called for "great caution" to avoid "turbulence or disruption in the intelligence system that now - I think - serves this nation reasonably well."

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/politics/9595211.htm