US Senate moves to pass intelligence reform bill

WASHINGTON - The US Senate moved to approve the biggest overhaul of US intelligence agencies in over 50 years on Wednesday after months of political wrangling, with some lawmakers still saying the reforms do not go far enough

The legislation, inspired by intelligence failures that led to the Sept. 11 attacks on America, creates a director of national intelligence to oversee 15 US spy agencies and other measures to tighten protection for Americans against attack.

Despite reservations by several lawmakers, the Senate was expected to overwhelmingly approve the legislation later on Wednesday and send it on for signature by President George W. Bush, who had pressed strongly for its passage despite opposition from some fellow Republicans.

The House of Representative passed it late Tuesday, ending months of wrangling about the power of the Pentagon under the reforms.

Lawmakers said the bill will help improve information-sharing among the various spy agencies and create a clear line of responsibility for intelligence operations.

It also creates a national counterterrorism center to plan and help oversee security operations, and it includes some other measures to shore up border security and give law enforcement new anti-terror tools.

"Just as the National Security Act of 1947 was passed to prevent another Pearl Harbor, the Intelligence Reform Act will help us prevent another 9/11," said Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Susan Collins, a Maine Republican who helped negotiate the final compromise with the House.

But some senators in both parties complained that the intelligence director's power falls short of what the bipartisan September 11 Commission, which examined the attacks, recommended in its report in July.

"While this bill has many good provisions, what it fails to do is create a leader of the intelligence community who is clearly in charge and as a result is fully accountable," Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, a Kansas Republican, said in a debate on the Senate floor.

He said Congress would most likely weigh in with further changes in the future.

The bill is the biggest revamping of US intelligence since the beginning of the Cold War. In response to the 2001 attacks, Congress earlier created the Homeland Security Department that brought together various federal law enforcement agencies to improve focus and coordination.

Senator Carl Levin a Michigan Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, express concern that the new spy director would not have enough independence from the White House.

"The creation of a stronger intelligence director makes it even more important that we enact reforms to ensure that intelligence assessments are not influenced by the policy judgments of whatever administration is in power," Levin said during the Senate debate.

US intelligence agencies have been accused of overstating the threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, which Bush cited in building a case for last year's invasion. No stockpiles of weapons have been found.

Families of September 11 victims played a big role in pushing for the legislation, which nearly died last month because of a dispute between the House and the Senate over the Pentagon's power over US intelligence.

As Bush made last minute appeals for the legislation, the two sides worked out language that would ensure battle field commanders have priority access to satellites and other intelligence assets.

- REUTERS