Commission’s Proposals Fall on Deaf Ears

• By Daniel J. Kaniewski
• Special to Roll Call
• Aug. 16, 2004, Midnight

President Bush demonstrated decisive leadership last week when he announced his proposal to reform the intelligence community, brushing aside the significant bureaucratic hurdles and political risks associated with such a bold move. While this is the second major reorganization of the executive branch since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the president’s actions heretofore have been met by no equivalent reforms in Congress. Congress must follow the president’s lead and confront a reorganization of its own head-on if the nation’s intelligence and homeland security efforts are to be successful.