C-span: Splitting the CIA into 3 Seperate Entities. What's THAT about?

[mopaul]

senator pat roberts big plan to re organize the c.i.a.

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

..........a little background in the new york times

[DeepModem Mom]

1. WP article indicates Kerry campaign is supporting the 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

[napi21]

2. There's not enough information yet,, to make a judgement

whether this would be good or bad. The article in the NYT link in the above post is the most explicit one I've seen yet, but a lot of the specifics are still unknown.

I tend to like the idea of splitting the intelligence into one agency and defence into the other, but I would like to hear the discussions from everyone, on all sides before I would make a commitment to any plan.

It should be interesting! Very powerful people NEVER want to give up anything! We're going to see a lot of kinking and screaming before this is all over!!!

[mopaul]

3. JFK tried to revamp the CIA and we all know how that turned out

they don't like to be revamped

[RivetJoint]

4. What do you mean

"splitting the intelligence into one agency and defence (sic) into the other." Defense intelligence is the biggest part of the intelligence budget. You can't split defense from intelligence.

[H2O Man]

5. Good point, Rivet Joint.....

The intelligence agencies are already almost entirely under the Department of Defense. The CI has, in theory, allowed for a more independant agency. It is supposed to report to the president, but have congressional oversight. In theory, that keeps it from molding its information to fit the desires of the Secretary of Defense.

We have witnessed the problems with CI when there is pressure from a VP or SoD that want intel to "prove" there are WMDs in Iraq. The goal of any reforms should be to keep the CIA independant in that sense. The problems with the lack of congressional oversight go back decades, and should be addressed separately.

[kentuck]

6. Me thinks Sen Roberts has been talking with Karl Rove ?

SOmething stinks about this story? My antennae went up when I first heard it. Why? Why? It will definitely be a diversion for the Congress and Senate, protecting turf, etc... How will that affect the presidential race? Other than slow them down on the campaign trail and, in the process, protect the status quo and the Repub Party?

[Deja Q]

7. Didn't * want to combine all the agencies after 9/11?!

Make up your mind, *... :shrug:

[Blue Wally]

8. Q!uit being so paranoid......

The senator has proposed a plan to improve intelligence and put it on the table. Instead of attacking him for putting a plan on the table, why don't we look at his plan and see where it can or should be changed to make it better.