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2 congressmen think small, leaving nation at risk
When the nation is under attack, citizens normally rally together. Differences are set aside to pursue common goals. The days after 9/11 provided many such moments. Neighbor joined neighbor. Republicans and Democrats buried politics temporarily. Even rival nations joined Americans in their grief. But more than three years later on Capitol Hill, a pair of powerful Republican lawmakers still don't seem to grasp that spirit. Last Saturday, they stood in the way of reforming the nation's broken intelligence system - obstructing a plan endorsed by just about every major player in Washington to address weaknesses that contributed to the 9/11 attacks. Today, because of their stubbornness, the nation remains more vulnerable to terrorism than it could be.Barely anyone argues that the splintered intelligence system isn't flawed. Fifteen disparate agencies follow their own agendas. No one is in charge. This jumble is overseen by eight congressional committees. And 80% of the budget is controlled by the Pentagon (news - web sites), even though the war on terrorism increases the need for non-military intelligence. All 10 members of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission, which studied the failings that led to 9/11, endorsed the same fix: a single, director with authority over all of the intelligence agencies and their budgets. The common-sense changes won support even among usually vehement foes. In the Senate, the GOP majority joined Democrats to approve the overhaul, 96 to 2. President Bush endorsed the plan. Groups of 9/11 families plied the corridors of the Capitol to lobby for it. A majority of House members support it, according to several analysts, who say the plan would have passed had it gotten to a vote. But that didn't happen. Posted by: tipper 2004-11-23 |
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