NYT: WH Moves to Clarify Authority Over Intelligence (power to Negroponte)

[DeepModem Mom]

White House Moves to Clarify Authority Over Intelligence
By DOUGLAS JEHL
Published: June 29, 2005


WASHINGTON, June 29 - The White House moved today to consolidate the power of John D. Negroponte, the director of national intelligence, in part by giving him clear authority for the first time over national security operations of the Federal Bureau of Investigation as well as the country's foreign intelligence agencies.

The steps announced by the White House embrace most of the dozens changes recommended three months ago by a nine-member presidential commission that reviewed the law that created Mr. Negroponte's post. Among other things, the commission had warned that Mr. Negroponte's control over the F.B.I. remained too vague to allow him to effectively direct its counterterrorism and counterintelligence operations, and to coordinate them with the work of the Central Intelligence Agency.

The changes allow Mr. Negroponte to use his authority over budgets and appointments to exercise control over new national security divisions to be established at the F.B.I. and the Justice Department....

***

The White House decision to reorganize the F.B.I. and the Justice Department's national security operations had been previously known, along with a plan to allow Mr. Negroponte a voice in choosing an official to head that F.B.I. operation. But the plans announced today reinforced the view that the White House wants Mr. Negroponte to extend his authority over the F.B.I., which has a tradition of fierce independence, in order to coordinate intelligence operations inside the United States as well as abroad.

The commission had said that while the director of national intelligence was expected to oversee all 15 American intelligence agencies, that "in the case of the F.B.I., the D.N.I.'s tools for ensuring influence remain troublingly vague."...


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/29/politics/29cnd-intel.html?hp&ex=1120104000&en=0ce752544e107f9e&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[maddezmom]

1. frightening...and "death squads" reported on in Iraq and reporter killed

we're moving backward not forward.
:scared:

[Media_Lies_Daily]

5. Wait until reports start to surface about Death Squads operating....

...in the US.

[u2spirit]

16. When Bushco named John as ambassador to Iraq

I had this sickening feeling in my stomach that hasn't gone away since. Now that he's able to spy on us I believe it is a matter of time until there are legitimate death squads operating here on our soil against our citezens. I am truly frightened by this.

[wasp in a wig]

2. I can't believe this

hasn't gotten more attention.

Another footnote for American democracy's autopsy - that a person like Negroponte was put in such a powerful position, and no-one was held to account for it.

There should have been widespread calls for impeachment for this alone, nevermind the Downing Street Memo.

Absolutely criminal.

[Evergreen Emerald]

4. Especially a person like Negroponte

It is frightening.

[DeepModem Mom]

23. It's a bit late to welcome you to DU, wasp in a wig, but couldn't resist..

taking the opportunity to extend a late welcome to someone with such a wonderful name!

[maddezmom]

3. AP: Bush Expands Intel Chief's Power Over FBI

WASHINGTON - President Bush granted the new national intelligence chief expanded power over the FBI on Wednesday and ordered dozens of other spy agency changes as the White House heeded a presidential commission that condemned the intelligence community for failures in Iraq and elsewhere.


But almost as soon as the details were unveiled, the White House was defending itself against suggestions that the moves were simply adding more bureaucracy without making changes that could have prevented misjudgments like those made on Iraq.

"It's an unfair characterization to say it's simply a restructuring," said Bush's homeland security adviser, Frances Fragos Townsend, who led the 90-day review of the recommendations from the president's commission on weapons of mass destruction. "It's a fundamental strengthening of our intelligence capabilities."

The White House said it endorsed 70 of the 74 recommendations from the commission, which was led by Republican Judge Laurence Silberman and former Democratic Sen. Charles Robb and conducted a yearlong review of the 15 intelligence agencies. Bush formed the commission under pressure after the top U.S. weapons inspector in Iraq resigned and started a firestorm of controversy over the accuracy of the prewar Iraq intelligence.

In its scathing 600-page report released in March, the commission called the spy community "dead wrong on almost all of its prewar judgments" about Iraq's weapons.

~snip~
more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050630/ap_on_go_pr_wh/intelligence_commission;_

[MaineDem]

6. Bush sets up domestic spy service

US President George W Bush has ordered the creation of a domestic intelligence service within the FBI, as part of a package of 70 new security measures.

The White House says it is enacting the measures to fight international terrorist groups and prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

The authorities will also be given the power to seize the property of people deemed to be helping the spread of WMD. An independent commission recommended the measures earlier this year.

The new measures form part of Mr Bush's overhaul of US intelligence agencies, aimed at bolstering the fight against terrorism and weapons proliferation.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4636117.stm

I didn't see this already posted. Apologies if it's a dupe.

[liberal N proud]

7. Isn't it the Federal Bureau of Investigation?

Isn't that sort of their job to start with?

Or are we just creating a wing of it to simulate the SS in Nazi Germany?

[flordehinojos]

10. i sort of go with your thought that bush is creating our American SS, or

our NKDV (the Russian equivalent of the German SS), or our COMITé DE BARRIO (the Cuban equivalen of the German SS).

'BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN' is no longer in Russia. It isour own iron curtain and bush is creating it!

I also think BUSH IS SETTING HIMSELF UP TO STAY IN POWER FOR MUCH, MUCH, MUUUUUUUUUUUUCH LONGER THAN HIS EXPECTED exit in 2008.

:cry:

[liberal N proud]

21. I have always stated that if he got back in office in 04 that

he will try to become the US Dictator.

[Logansquare]

8. Ah, finally we have our own Stasi

Now American children can inform on their parents, too.

[Deja Q]

9. An FBI within the FBI to spy on regular citizens... Heil.

But we don't do anything wrong so why is this happening?

(freedom is only as free as the length of the leash their trained puppies are on.)

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. "people deemed to be helping the spread of WMD"

Technically, doesn't that mean Novak, and whoever leaked Valerie Plame's job to him? Since she was working undercover to prevent the spread of WMD. Are we going to see Novak and Rove's property seized? I think not.

[dArKeR]

14. So far WhoreLand Security caught and shut down 12 year-olds downloading

MP3s and low quality movies on http://elitetorrents.org/ . Whoreland Security used their vast spy network to catch a few prositutes, (story on major media.) My neighbor is being charged, by the CA DA, using a new Patriot Act terrorism law, for swearing at his with. (They separated and she found him a stole his truck. He called her on cell, a cop happen to at her home for another case and listened to "If you don't bring my truck back you'll find yourself dead on the road. I need my tools for work."

Why aren't the moral Congresspersons standing up and talking about this?




I agree, why isn't Novak being arrested and his property seized?

[dArKeR]

22. "swearing at his wife" - End of story...

The wife did press charges at the advice of the cop. Later when the wife found out what the DA was actually doing she told the DA to stop. She, on her own, signed an affidavit saying she NEVER in her life felt threatened by him. She was upset about the separation and trying to get back. She couldn't believe the DA would be doing this... The word from his PD is that the paperwork is already in the hands of the DA and the judge and he still may be sent to prison under the new terrorism law.

In my opinion, these DAs are just trying to make a "pedigree" for themselve to launch political careers. They don't care who/what/why/innocent they put in prison.

[Massachusetts]

12. " Bush sets up domestic spy service"

Here we go AGAIN

[unhappycamper]

13. .

http://i3.photobucket.com.nyud.net:8090/albums/y69/KenInBoston/posters/fascism_not_us_1.jpg

[peacetalksforall]

15. Why is this coming from BBC? Is in not covered by our own?

This nation could just avoid all this crap and become a peaceful nation - a leader of peace and negotiated trade. All the leaders want to fight and the citizens want to have families, businesses, the ability to rise up, the ability to go see family, the ability to learn.

Q. Tell me what we are superior at?

A. War mongering. YEAH YEAH more more. Hoo rah.

We think of the planet as big. But it is very small the way all the leaders lead us.

Got a life to give us?
Got an eye to give us?
Got and arm and a leg to give us?
Got an immune system to give us?
Got a spy to give us?

Who is us? Corporations and their stockholders. They place the politicians and they run them and the military. And Intelligence does what ever is asked of them with no qualms about being partisan on the side of the corporations.

On edit: I first replied on the other thread where BBC was linked.

[Gyre]

17. "Democrats gave a cautious welcome to the measures. "

You expect republicans to be nazis, but I am so tired of democrat "double-agents" in congress I could scream. I'm sorry that Dean has to deal with these snakes.

Gyre

[u2spirit]

19. Amen

You expect the rethugs to be what they are. Vichy dems suck and make me question whether all the wrongs over the last 5 years will ever be righted.

[Jack Rabbit]

18. BBC Link: Bush sets up domestic spy service

From the BBC Online
Dated Thursday June 30 11:22 GMT (4:22 am PDT)

Bush sets up domestic spy service

US President George W Bush has ordered the creation of a domestic intelligence service within the FBI, as part of a package of 70 new security measures.

The White House says it is enacting the measures to fight international terrorist groups and prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

The authorities will also be given the power to seize the property of people deemed to be helping the spread of WMD. An independent commission recommended the measures earlier this year.

The new measures form part of Mr Bush's overhaul of US intelligence agencies, aimed at bolstering the fight against terrorism and weapons proliferation.

Read more.

[Javaman]

20. I'm glad they are giving necroponte more power...

Now, not only can he suck our blood, but now he can also eat our flesh.

Isn't that dandy...

colossal jackass failure*

[lovuian]

24. White House consolidates Negroponte power

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=caf0e98aaaecb1ce

Big News Network.com Thursday 30th June, 2005 (UPI)

The Bush administration has given the director of national intelligence more power, including authority over operations by the FBI and other agencies.

The White House's decision falls in line with changes recommended three months ago by a presidential commission that reviewed the law that created John Negroponte's post, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

The commission had recommended the changes after it decided that Negroponte's control over the FBI was not specific enough for him to effectively direct its counterterrorism and counterintelligence operations and to coordinate them with the CIA.

The changes allow Negroponte to exercise authority over budgets and appointments at planned new national security divisions at the FBI and the Justice Department. The commission had said the changes were needed because in the case of the FBI, the DNI's tools for ensuring influence remain troublingly vague.

more...

Now I ask you WHO REALLY is the MOST POWERFUL MAN in AMERICA!!!

???

I think Cheney just gave Negroponte a boost up the food chain!!!

CIA & FBI together = NO FREAKIN WAY!!!

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. death squads, they are coming to a neighborhood near you

[DBoon]

26. Central America was just for practice

nt

[Nothing Without Hope]

27. Mr. Torture. How appallingly appropriate. Don't miss this broadcast

on kidnapping and torturing of people around the world by the CIA:

http://www.indybay.org/uploads/torture_dirtybusiness.rm

It's in Real Media format, about 50 minutes, from the UK.

Recommended.

[CHIMO]

28. Bush Orders FBI Changes; ACLU Warns of "Secret Police Force"

Bush Orders FBI Changes; ACLU Warns of "Secret Police Force"

President Bush has ordered a number of sweeping changes to the nation's intelligence services prompting civil liberties groups to warn that the country is moving closer to establishing a secret police force. Under the reorganization, the FBI will form a new National Security Service that will include counterintelligence, counterterrorism and intelligence divisions. In addition the country's spy chief John Negroponte will be given greater oversight power of the FBI. Negroponte -- who is the country's first director of national intelligence -- will have the authority to approve the hiring of the FBI's top national security official and will have the power to communicate with FBI agents and analysts in the field on intelligence matters. The changes are also intended to break down old walls between foreign and domestic intelligence activities. Civil liberties groups are warning the changes represent a radical step toward the creation of a secret police force in the United States. Timothy Edgar of the American Civil Liberties Union told the Washington Post, "Spies and cops play different roles and operate under different rules for a reason. The FBI is effectively being taken over by a spymaster who reports directly to the White House." Edgar went on to say, "It's alarming that the same person who oversees foreign spying will now oversee domestic spying." The changes put in place by Bush were based on recommendations made by a special intelligence commission headed by senior appellate judge Laurence Silberman and former senator Charles Robb.

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/06/30/1333203

Scary stuff. One wonders how to unwind the tangle?

[rodeodance]

29. I do not think it is a good idea to have so much power in one person--

no matter the party.

[CHIMO]

30. Agree

But once the power is there, any new person would naturally see the benefits of retaining that power. So the question becomes, how can the split between policing and intelligence and spying be separated once instituted?
Seems scary to me.

[Nothing Without Hope]

31. This move has extremely sinister and far-reaching implications

He won't be only Mr. Kidnap & Torture for the REST of the world, at some point he'll be Big Brother to US.

[Cronus Protagonist]

32. No kidding

:kick:

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