Bush submits intelligence reform plan to Congress

US President George W. Bush on Thursday submitted to Congress a plan to give a proposed new national intelligence director much authority over the nation's intelligence budget,  but not the full powers sought by an independent commission that investigated the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

According to the plan, the national intelligence director will determine the annual consolidated budget for the National Foreign Intelligence Program, which constitutes more than half of the 40-billion-US-dollar intelligence budget.

But it says the consolidated budget should be developed after obtaining the advice of the defense secretary and other members of the cabinet,  and it would also leaves the Pentagon in charge of the military intelligence agencies.

The plan did not give the intelligence director sweeping powers to hire and fire top intelligence officials.

Critics said the plan fell short of the recommendations by the Sept. 11 commission, which proposed the creation of the national intelligence chief and recommended that the director be given full powers on budget and hiring.

Unveiling his plan on Sept. 8, Bush said he intends to give the intelligence director "full budget authority" and "the management tools" to oversee the intelligence community and integrate foreign and domestic intelligence.

Source: Xinhua