OH, THERE'S LOTS MORE FOLKS...JUST KEEP READING

Bush widens spy chief's authority More power is granted over hiring, the CIA

By David Nitkin and Bradley Olson Sun reporters August 1, 2008 1 2 next WASHINGTON - President Bush has broadened the power of the nation's spy chief, the White House announced yesterday, drawing measured praise from intelligence analysts and complaints from members of Congress who said they were not consulted.

In strengthening the role of the director of national intelligence, Bush reduced the authority of the CIA in some areas.

Congress created the intelligence director's job after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, to help coordinate all of the nation's spying operations, but the director's effectiveness has been hampered by interagency power struggles and a lack of control over spending.

Bush has issued a new executive order, made public by the White House, revising rules issued by President Ronald Reagan in 1981 that govern the operation of the federal intelligence apparatus.

The Bush order gives the director explicit authority, according to the White House, to "participate more fully" in the hiring and firing of key intelligence personnel.

Among the most significant challenges for the director has been creating lines of authority among the CIA, the FBI, the Defense Department and more than a dozen other intelligence agencies.

FOR THE REST OF THE ARTICLE GO TO: URL:http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.intel01aug01,0,3291780.story