Free Republic

If there's any truth in the adage "you can't fight City Hall," then it is triply difficult to take on the U.S. Senate, the White House, and the national media. Yet that is what my California colleague, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-El Cajon, did in fighting for an intelligence reform bill that gives military commanders and troops in the field direct authority to access real-time satellite and signals intelligence.

Along with 74 of my House colleagues, I voted against the so-called intelligence reform legislation passed by Congress last week. First and foremost, the changes brought about by this bill will not prevent another catastrophic terrorist attack on the United States like the one we suffered on 9-11. This legislative effort was designed to make people feel safer because they perceive something is being done. Unfortunately, any sense of security as a result of this bill is illusionary.

A Republican congressman is decrying the intelligence reform bill set to pass Congress today, saying it creates a de facto national ID-card system. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, says by establishing standards for state driver's licenses on a federal level, the government is setting up a national system that's "not proper in a free society." The bill, which established a new cabinet-level national intelligence director and expands some law-enforcement powers, passed the House of Representatives last night 336-75 and is scheduled for a Senate vote today. "This is America, not Soviet Russia," said the libertarian-leaning Paul in a statement. "The federal...

INTEL REFORMED OR NOT: The early indications say - not bad. Score a win for Congressman Hunter who because of his persistence got the very good language added:"The new national intelligence director shall respect and not abrogate the statutory responsibilities of the heads of the departments of the United States government." With these words of insurance Hunter is now free to support the measure and give President Bush a clear win on his first legislative agenda item since the election. Hunter's biggest concern dealt with red tape getting in the way of the chain of command that would prevent the...

Kissinger Opposes U.S. Intel Czar, Is 'Optimistic' About Mideast Peace Wednesday, September 15, 2004 By David S. Hirschman Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (search) said Monday he was "uneasy" about uniting all of the country's intelligence operations under a single chief, he worried about the possibility of a nuclear Iran and he's "optimistic" the disputed security fence in Israel might eventually result in a negotiated solution to the Middle East conflict. Speaking at a luncheon hosted by the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation in Manhattan, Kissinger, who served as secretary of state under presidents Richard Nixon (search) and Gerald...

White House Drafts Intel Reform Orders 12 minutes ago Add White House - AP to My Yahoo! By KATHERINE PFLEGER SHRADER, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON - The White House has drafted executive orders aimed at implementing the Sept. 11 commission's recommendations for a more powerful intelligence director and a new national counterterrorism center. Bush administration and congressional officials said Thursday drafts of executive orders are circulating among an interagency group for approval. One of the officials said the White House is floating three proposals, and asking for feedback by Friday. The orders would: _ Enhance the powers of the government's...