Bush calls for new intelligence director

[librechik]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=544&ncid=716&e=2&u=/ap/20040802/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_intelligence_reform

"WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) on Monday endorsed creation of a national intelligence czar and counterterrorism center — his first steps in revamping the nation's intelligence-gathering system to help prevent a repeat of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.



"We are a nation in danger," Bush said as he announced his position during an appearance with top administration national security figures in the White House Rose Garden.

snip

The chairman of the Sept. 11 commission, former New Jersey Gov. Thomas Kean, and former Rep. Lee Hamilton have insisted that the center and the national intelligence director position be placed in the executive office of the president to give the White House clout in dealing with all the nation's intelligence agencies. Bush said he wants them set up outside the White House. "


* started a press conference about it, then somebodya asked about WMD. Bush mumbled some prepared phrases (Saddam Bad/Bush Good/Criticism of Bush Bad) and abruptly left the podium.

[readmylips]

1. He wants another bush puppet...like Powell/Ridge...

That will just be another toy for bush.

[papau]

8. Bloomberg below has Kerry's response

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aI2aWCpDSnPc&refer=home

Bush Endorses Creating New Intelligence Director, Terror Center
Aug. 2 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush said he supports two key recommendations of the commission that studied the Sept. 11 attacks: creating the post of national intelligence director and an office to coordinate all U.S. efforts to combat terrorism.

Bush, acting 11 days after the bipartisan commission released its findings and recommendations, also backed giving a handful of congressional committees authority over intelligence and homeland security now shared by dozens of panels.

``We are a nation in danger,'' Bush said, citing fresh warnings about terrorist plots to bomb financial buildings in New York City, northern New Jersey and Washington. ``We're doing everything in our power to confront the danger.''

Democratic presidential challenger John Kerry, 60, said Bush had three years to make the country safer against a terrorist attack. ``We Americans have a right to ask why you haven't done the things necessary to make America as safe as possible,'' Kerry, a four-term U.S. senator from Massachusetts, said in an interview with Cable News Network.

Asked about that criticism, Bush said, ``My job is to take a look at what I think is right'' and build on improvements already made. ``We have already done a lot,'' said Bush, 58. <snip>

[librechik]

9. thanks papau! n/t

[papau]

10. Why is CIA director supersized to Nat'l Director, with an aid as CIA head?

"Under the reorganization Bush is backing, the CIA would be managed by a separate director and the national intelligence director would assume the broader responsibility of leading the intelligence community government-wide."

Does this mean the Nat'l Director has hire/fire and budget over all 15 intel agencies - or is this just window dressing?

The CIA Director now "leads" all 15 intel groups - but just does not have hire/fire and budget control of them.

It sure looks like Bush - and our media - are pulling a fast one as they con us that Bush has accepted the Committee recommendations.

[darthmix]

2. He wants it outside the White House

because that'll make it easier to blame oil wars on someone else's faulty intelligence

[lil-petunia]

4. that was the only coherent thing he said, everything else

was nonresponsive, illiterate, and poorly phrased. He never answered a question directly. not one. not even close to being on the same topic.

it was one of the worst examples of his drug-damaged brain I have heard.

[Rose Siding]

3. Flip flopper

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration warned Friday that the two central reforms proposed by the Sept. 11 commission — creating a powerful intelligence chief and establishing a new counterterrorism center — may remove barriers protecting intelligence from political influence and undermine civil liberties.

The president and his senior advisors are drafting initial orders on some of the commission's recommendations that could be issued as soon as next week. But action on the centerpiece reforms deserves more consideration, a senior White House official said.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-commish31jul31.story

"We are a nation in danger," Bush said

and yet, somehow...

'America is safer,' Bush says in W.Va.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/nation/9081812.htm?1c

[JoMama49]

5. Anyone else believe terrorist threat just another Bush ploy?

Why do you think it is that as soon as Bush goes down in the polls, the terrorist threat goes to orange? Is this terrorist threat based on the same intelligence they used to say there were WMD's in Iraq? If so, aren't more eyebrows raised than mine? This all seems like just another hoax to scare Americans and get them to think Bush will save them! Next thing we might see is Bush purportedly stopping a terrorist attack right before they hit! This is all such rubbish!

[darthmix]

6. It is.

On NPR this morning they had some intelligence experts talking about how the threat warning is a gross over-reaction. All the "intelligence" really shows is that at some point years ago al quaeda had thought of these targets as potential points of attack. There's absolutely no reason to believe they've organized a plan to do so.

[newyawker99]

11. Hi JoMama49!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[VelmaD]

7. So what exactly is Condi Rice's job?

Isn't the National Security Advisor supposed to be coordinating intelligence?

[Inland]

15. That's what I keep asking

And with Bush saying that this new post is to be in the WH, it becomes exactly Condi's current responsibility.

[truthisfreedom]

12. sigh. he's just getting around to doing something here at home?

he went and wrecked someone else's countries, gave a hundred billion to his cronies, and just before the election he's going to get around to doing SOMETHING here at home besides issue funny colored alerts?

what about the extra security? what about funding the firefighters? what about funding the police? what about preparing the emergency supplies and training people on every block? i haven't heard word one about this stuff. we should have a block captain on every block, and secure fallout shelters with supplies, and information readily available to all of us about where to go to get special support in the event of a catasrophic attack, chemical, nuclear, or otherwise.

instead, we have a bunch of Iraqi blood on our hands, and very few friends left all over the world.

this schmuck better not be here screwing up our country after November. get out the fooking vote, people.

[stepnw1f]

13. And I Call For Intelligence!

Good bye you fascist!

[mrdmk]

14. Here, here! n/t

:toast:

[Tight_rope]

16. Double Here! Here! n/t