Committee urges overhaul, inquiry into Sept. 11 attacks
10/03/2001 .... http://www.dallasnews.com/attack_on_america/investigation/stories/486622_intel_03nat.AR.html ...... NYTimes via DallasNews.com
New York Times News Service
WASHINGTON – The House committee that oversees the nation's intelligence agencies has called for far-reaching changes in intelligence operations. It also wants an independent investigation into why the government did not foresee or prevent the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, in a report accompanying a classified intelligence bill expected to be taken up by the House this week, says it is urgent to address the "many critical problems" facing the intelligence agencies.
The bill, approved by the committee late last week, would create an independent 10-member commission to study the preparedness and performance of many federal agencies during and after the Sept. 11 strikes. It would also increase the roughly $30 billion intelligence budget, although the exact amounts are classified.
The committee calls for a "cultural revolution" inside such agencies as the CIA and FBI and a thorough review of the nation's national security structures.
The committee's bill would rescind CIA Director George Tenet's 1995 restrictions on the CIA's use of unsavory covert agents and instructs him to write new guidelines. It speaks of a "culture of risk aversion" and says the 1995 guidelines "have had a negative impact on the recruitment of sources against terrorist organizations."
Rep. Porter Goss, R-Fla., who is chairman of the intelligence committee and is a former CIA case officer, said he is a strong supporter of Mr. Tenet and that he leaned against establishing an independent commission at this time.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the ranking Democrat on the committee, said: "The point is not to point blame or point fingers. The point is to see where the weaknesses are in our system."
The criticism of the CIA has been muted since Sept. 11, with only Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama, the ranking Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, calling for Mr. Tenet's resignation. The Bush administration has rallied behind Mr. Tenet, and many lawmakers say it isn't the time to remove him or to run an investigation that could distract agencies that should be focused on preventing further attacks.
The commission would be appointed by the president and congressional leaders and would examine the performance of many federal agencies responsible for public safety, law enforcement, national security and intelligence gathering. It would have subpoena powers and would report back six months after its formation.
President Bush has already ordered internal reviews of intelligence gathering. But the committee said that "if history serves, however, no substantive changes will occur after these reviews are complete."
The Senate passed its own intelligence measure before Sept. 11, and it was not clear where it would stand on creating a commission. Senior lawmakers on the Senate Intelligence Committee have also called for a new look at the nation's intelligence apparatus.
Rep. Bob Barr, R-Ga.. said he was considering whether to offer an amendment to lift the 25-year ban on using covert agents to assassinate foreign leaders. The ban was enacted by executive order.
The committee recommended that intelligence agencies offer bonuses for language proficiency and that they consider creating their own language school. The committee also said that the nation needed to increase its front-line field officers, clandestine case officers and defense attaches.
It said a "fresh look" should be taken at restructuring the CIA and other intelligence agencies to create a separate clandestine service, splitting the directorate of covert operations out of the CIA.