Powell, Ridge endorse national intelligence director concept

Secretary of State Colin Powell and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge Monday endorsed the concept of creating a new national intelligence director to coordinate the nation's intelligence agencies.

They told the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee that giving the position real power will help better protect the country, the Associated Press reported.

"A strong national intelligence director is essential," Powell said. "That strength is gained by giving the NID full budget authority."

President Bush last week endorsed the idea of combining most of the nation's nonmilitary intelligence agencies under a new national intelligence director, a recommendation made by the 9/11 Commission in its final report. The panel also called for the director to have the power to decide how to spend money that Congress sets aside for nonmilitary intelligence work. Bush also supports that idea.

The 9/11 Commission found that part of the problem before and on Sept. 11, 2001, was that the 15 existing intelligence agencies were not working together properly. Creating a strong intelligence director would force those agencies to cooperate, the commission said. Ridge said a strong national intelligence director would also help him do his job.

"The president's proposal will provide better unity of effort in the intelligence community and improved linkage with law enforcement, which will greatly enhance our ability to do our job of protecting Americans and securing the homeland," Ridge said in prepared remarks.