NYT,pg1,lead: Sen. (Roberts) Proposes Plan to Split Up (eliminate) CIA

[DeepModem Mom]

A G.O.P. Senator Proposes a Plan to Split Up C.I.A.
By PHILIP SHENON

Published: August 23, 2004


WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 - The Republican chairman of the Senate intelligence committee said Sunday that he would propose legislation to break up the Central Intelligence Agency and divide its responsibilities among three new spy agencies.

The plan would eliminate the Pentagon's direct control over the National Security Agency and create a post of national intelligence director with virtually complete control over the government's $40 billion annual intelligence budget.

The sweeping proposal, by Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas, which would also provide the national intelligence director with budget authority over counterterrorism and counterintelligence programs of the F.B.I., goes far beyond the recommendations of the independent Sept. 11 commission.

Aides to Senator Roberts said he had obtained support in principle from eight of nine Republicans on the intelligence committee and would present it Monday to the White House and to members of the Sept. 11 commission, whose final report has prompted President Bush and lawmakers to rush to overhaul the way the nation gathers and shares intelligence.

The plan is certain to be fiercely opposed by the C.I.A., WHICH WOULD CEASE TO EXIST, its responsibilities shifted elsewhere and its name probably eliminated; by the Pentagon, which would have to cede control over the N.S.A. and other defense intelligence agencies that it long described as essential to the military; and by several influential members of Congress who have warned against any drastic restructuring of the nation's intelligence community....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/23/politics/23intel.html

[CanIgonow]

1. The old CIA was a thorn on the sides of Cheney and Rumsfeld

when they tried to manufacture the yellowcake document.So it had to go.

[DeepModem Mom]

2. LINK TO WP pg-1 article (Kerry campaign supports plan)

"The plan was welcomed by the campaign of Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry, who has endorsed the changes advocated by the commission, including creation of a national intelligence director.

Rand Beers, the campaign's national security adviser, said in a statement that the proposal 'is very similar to the reforms offered by John Kerry but needs to become bipartisan to be fully successful.' Beers also accused President Bush of 'dragging his feet and resisting any real changes.'"


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23719-2004Aug22.html

[leesa]

3. The CIA is the only one who can stop these monsters. They are going

to try to destroy them first.

[el_gato]

4. Don't be fooled

The purpose of both the FBI and the CIA is to protect
the entrenched elite from democracy. Anything that
will be proposed to replace these agencies will be
more of the same.

[Crunchy Frog]

5. Unfortunately,

anything that replaces these agencies will be even worse.