An American MI5?
The independent commission studying the Sept. 11 terror attacks is considering recommending changes in U.S. intelligence that would go well beyond actions of the Bush administration, including creation of a domestic spy agency modeled after Britain's MI5.
James B. Steinberg, deputy national security adviser in the Clinton administration, said he advocates the creation of two new entities: an independent director of national intelligence and a domestic security service like the MI5.
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Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge visited MI5 headquarters during a trip to Britain last year. He later said he doubted the Bush administration would create a similar domestic intelligence agency, because MI5's powers would be unacceptable under the U.S. Constitution.
FBI Director Robert Mueller also opposes the idea of an American MI5, saying such a proposal is based on "a faulty understanding of counterterrorism that sees a dichotomy between `intelligence operations' and `law enforcement operations.'"
Get the whole story from the Associated Press.
Matt's Chat
Well, it is clear that changes need to be made. Is this the right change to make? I'm not so sure, but I agree that we need to beef up our intelligence capabilities in the homeland as well as abroad.Mark's Remarks
Well, you know, we once had great intelligence services...Then we had the 70s anti-CIA/FBI movement post-Watergate, and just when things were building up again intelligence wise, we get Clinton in the White House, who slashes resources for both agencies and fills them with so many directives and bureaucratic b.s. it reminds me of what they did to Robocop in Robocop 2. How can one function efficiently with all that red tape? Maybe waht we should do is work with what we have and change it....because what will happen is that this new agency will cost money, and the liberals will point to it as more "needless spending" for national security....I guess 9/11 really wasn't that important to them, or their ilk, like Michael Moore.....While changes need to be made, I must agree with my colleague that I am not sure the creation of a whole new agency is the key. Maybe changing some of the statutes regarding CIA and FBI sharing of info....that could be a good place to start....
