Go slow on spy reform, Rumsfeld says

WASHINGTON – The United States’ top military and intelligence officials warned senators Tuesday against a rapid restructuring of spy agencies during a hearing that also exposed fault lines within the Bush administration over whether the Pentagon should yield clout to a new intelligence director.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld cautioned lawmakers that sweeping reforms could disrupt U.S. operations as the country continues to fight insurgents in Iraq and pursue terrorists in Afghanistan and other countries.

“We need to remember that we are considering these important matters … while we are waging a war,” Rumsfeld told the Senate Armed Services Committee in his first extensive remarks on the subject since President Bush endorsed the idea earlier this month of creating a new intelligence director.

“If we move unwisely and get it wrong,” Rumsfeld said, “the penalty would be great.”

Acting CIA Director John McLaughlin echoed Rumsfeld’s comment and challenged statements by members of the commission that investigated the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that the reforms recommended last month should be enacted without delay.

“The commission says that the country cannot be patient,” McLaughlin said. “But to quote a saying I learned during my Army years: If you want it bad, you will get it bad.”

Their remarks, combined with similar statements of caution from Sen. John Warner, R-Va., the armed services committee chairman, represent an effort by the White House and key congressional allies to slow down the intelligence reform process.

Many of the proposals would weaken the Pentagon’s power over the U.S. intelligence community. Nine of the United States’ 15 spy agencies are part of the Department of Defense, which controls more than 80 percent of the U.S. intelligence budget.

Rumsfeld raised several arguments against giving the CIA director or a new intelligence czar exclusive authority over the budgets of the intelligence agencies and decisions on hiring and firing senior personnel, warning against any change that would weaken the link between military commanders and intelligence assets such as spy satellites and listening posts.

Senate Intelligence Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said Monday that his panel already has decided to recommend the creation of a position of intelligence director, who would get budget authority and hiring and firing power.

But Warner suggested Tuesday that perhaps the CIA director could simply be elevated to Cabinet level.

Associated Press

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld talks to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday about intelligence reform.

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