Spy Agency Reform Thrown Into Doubt

[cal04]

An agreement reached on Saturday by congressional negotiators on post-Sept. 11 intelligence reforms was thrown into doubt by resistance by some Republicans in the House of Representatives. Proponents hoped to win passage of a bill creating a new national intelligence director post in the final hours of the 108th Congress. Failure to do so would require lawmakers to start over again when the 109th Congress convenes in January. "It's up in the air," several House Republicans leaving a closed-door meeting to discuss the measure told reporters.

Senate Governmental Affairs Committee (news - web sites) Chairman Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, and Sen. Joseph Lieberman (news, bio, voting record) of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the panel, said a majority of Senate negotiators had signed off on the deal. The compromise with the House would give the intelligence director significant budget authority but it would be less sweeping than the authority originally sought by the Senate and Sept. 11 Commission, which investigated the attacks.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert backed the deal, said the Illinois Republican's spokesman John Feehery. Negotiators said President Bush (news - web sites) also supports it. But Rep. Deborah Pryce (news, bio, voting record) of Ohio, following the meeting of House Republicans, said, "It's kind of dicey."

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&u=/nm/20041120/pl_nm/security_congress_dc&printer=1

Intelligence Overhaul Deal Falls Through
Congress on Saturday failed in its attempt to get legislation addressing the Sept. 11 Commission's terror-fighting recommendations to President Bush (news - web sites), but Republican leaders said they would try to press the effort later this year.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&ncid=716&e=3&u=/ap/20041120/ap_on_go_co/congress_intelligence

[helnwhls]

1. When I tell friends about

the CIA loyalty oaths and all that, THEY DO NOT BELIEVE ME! I have had three people think I am making this up. It is that willful ignorance, again. People can not accept what is happening. I am feeling kinda like changing my name to Cassandra.

[aquart]

2. What CIA loyalty oath?

(Haven't been listening to the news.)

[helnwhls]

5. this is what I am referencing

Loyalty oath is extreme, but it sounds like where they are heading.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=996755

[Robert Oak]

3. What r u talking about CIA loyalty oath? n/t

[helnwhls]

4. Here is the article and a DU discussion

Loyalty oath is extreme, but it sounds like where they are heading.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/17/politics/17intel.html?oref=login&hp&ex=1100667600&en=bdf50ba54566e1cb&ei=5094&partner=homepage

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=996755

[Robert Oak]

6. ah, the new goon squad, be a goon or u be gone soon...ty n/t

[NuttyFluffers]

7. tempted to say, "punch 'em in throat, wipe their face with those articles"

i'm getting very sick and tired of willful ignorance myself. but must adhere to my non-violence values.

ps: maybe kicking them in the shins and slapping their face with the articles is acceptable, i'll have to meditate on that.

[cal04]

8. Article on Yahoo title now changed to Rebellious Republicans

Rebellious Republicans Derail 9/11 Reform

In a defeat for President Bush (news - web sites), rebellious House Republicans on Saturday derailed legislation to overhaul the nation's intelligence agencies along lines recommended by the Sept. 11 commission. "It's hard to reform. It's hard to make changes," said Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., who sought unsuccessfully to persuade critics among the GOP rank and file to swing behind the measure.

Hastert's decision to send lawmakers home without a vote drew attacks from Democrats, and capped an unpredictable day in which prospects for enactment of the measure seemed to grow, then diminish, almost by the hour. He left open the possibility of summoning lawmakers back in session early next month.

As approved by key negotiators, the White House and the bipartisan the 9-11 commission, the compromise would create a powerful position to oversee the CIA (news - web sites) and several other nonmilitary spy agencies. A new national counterterrorism center would coordinate the fight against foreign terrorists.

Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) both contacted congressional negotiators by phone in hopes of nailing down an acceptable compromise that could clear Congress in the final hours of a postelection session. But Reps. Duncan Hunter and Jim Sensenbrenner, chairmen of the Armed Services and Judiciary committees, raised objections. Officials said Hunter, R-Calif., expressed concerns that provisions of the bill could interfere with the military chain of command and endanger troops in the field. Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., wanted additional provisions dealing with immigration, these officials said.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=2&u=/ap/20041120/ap_on_go_co/congress_intelligence