Intelligence

DATE=9-21-04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CONGRESS / INTELLIGENCE (L-O)

NUMBER=2-319161

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL

HEADLINE: US Senate panel approves nominee to be CIA chief

INTRO: The U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee has approved (by a 12 to four vote) Republican Congressman Porter Goss to be the next director of the Central Intelligence Agency and sent the nomination to the full Senate for expected confirmation. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

TEXT: Those who opposed Mr. Goss' nomination are Democrats who are concerned the nominee may be too partisan for the job.

The top Democrat on the panel, Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, is troubled by comments Mr. Goss has made in support of President Bush and critical of Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, and questions whether Mr. Goss can be independent-minded.

Senator Rockefeller believes Mr. Goss is tainted by politics, and for that reason, he argues that no one who has served in Congress should be considered for the post of C.I.A. director:

/// ROCKEFELLER ACTUALITY ///

"Nobody who has been in politics, and particularly recently, should do this."

/// END ACT ///

But the Republican chairman of the Intelligence Committee, Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas, notes that Mr. Goss vowed in two confirmation hearings to be an objective CIA director.

/// ROBERTS ACTUALITY ///

"The gentleman has indicated he is independent, he will be non-partisan, and he will be aggressive."

/// END ACT ///

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, speaking on the Senate floor, says the Senate will likely vote on the nomination this week.

/// FRIST ACTUALITY ///

"It only makes sense that we have the post of director of Central Intelligence be filled at this important time."

/// END ACT ///

Congressman Goss, until recently, was chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, and played a key role in probing intelligence failures prior to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He has served nearly 16 years in Congress.

Before his election to Congress, where he has served for nearly 16 years, Mr. Goss spent a decade as a CIA agent.

If confirmed, Mr. Goss would succeed George Tenet, who resigned as CIA director in July.

As the Intelligence Committee was voting on Mr. Goss' nomination, two other Senate panels were also working on intelligence matters.

The Government Affairs Committee began marking up (eds: working on) legislation to implement the proposals of the September 11th commission aimed at preventing another terrorist attack. The committee hopes to have the measure on the Senate floor next week. The House is working on its own version of the legislation.

Meanwhile, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing on proposals for intelligence reform, which include the establishment of a national intelligence director and a counterterrorism center to coordinate the gathering and sharing of intelligence.

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger urged lawmakers to take time, perhaps six or eight months, to consider the proposals, saying the political pressures of a presidential election campaign are bound to affect their thinking.

/// KISSINGER ACTUALITY ///

"The urgency should not trump substance."

/// END ACT ///

Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, agrees.

/// BYRD ACTUALITY ///

"I think we should wait until next year, when we can take more time, and not act in such haste. The more scrutiny we can give to the various proposals that are on the table, the better off we will be."

/// END ACT ///

But Mr. Byrd's fellow Democrat, Senator Fritz Hollings of South Carolina, criticized those who want to postpone intelligence reform.

/// HOLLINGS ACTUALITY ///

"It strikes me as the old political maxim that when in doubt, do nothing, and stay in doubt all the time."

/// END ACT ///

Most lawmakers agree. Majority Leader Frist wants the Senate to vote on the measure before it adjourns October eighth. (signed)

NEB/DAT/KBK/RH