Bush Asks Cabinet-Level Task Force to “Fast Track” Review of Sept. 11 Commission Recommendations

By Mike Nartker
Global Security Newswire

WASHINGTON — U.S. President George W. Bush yesterday asked the members of a Cabinet-level task force to “fast-track” their review of the intelligence reform recommendations made by the Sept. 11 commission, the White House announced (see GSN, July 26).

Bush conducted a videoconference with the task force while at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, said White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan. The members of the task force include White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, Attorney General John Ashcroft, FBI Director Robert Mueller and acting CIA Director John McLaughlin.

“The president charged the group with reviewing the recommendations and impressed upon them the importance of acting quickly,” Buchan said. “The president favors reform.  And he wants a rapid review of the recommendations, so that if we can do anything to make America safer, the president wants to be acting on that as quickly as possible,” she added.

The Sept. 11 commission recommended last week a number of proposals to help improve U.S. intelligence, counterterrorism and homeland security efforts, including creation of a national director of intelligence and a National Counterterrorism Center. The commission also called for changes in how Congress oversees intelligence and homeland security efforts.

Bush could act “within days” to implement some of the commission’s proposals through executive order, Buchan said. She refused, though, to detail which recommendations that might include. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Senator John Kerry (Mass.) has said that the president could implement more than half of the commission’s recommendations without congressional action.

Lawmakers in both houses of Congress plan to hold hearings over the summer recess to examine the commission’s proposals, with the aim of preparing legislation before the end of the year. Hearings are set to begin next month in the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, the House Select Committee on Homeland Security and both the House and Senate intelligence committees.

In addition to the review being conducted by senior administration officials, Bush himself has been reading the commission’s report, according to Buchan.

“He is finding it interesting, and he agrees with the commission that we are safer, but not safe, and that there is more to do,” she said.

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