White House prepares executive orders to reform intelligence community

WASHINGTON (AP) - Amid a heated election-year debate on intelligence reform, President Bush prepared to sign executive orders Friday strengthening the powers of the CIA director and establishing a new national counterterrorism center.

The moves will "improve our ability to find, track and stop terrorists," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said.

One executive order will give the CIA director additional authority on an interim basis to perform many of the functions of a proposed national intelligence director who would oversee all 15 of the nation's intelligence agencies. Bush also will work with Congress to create the position of national intelligence director, McClellan said.

Congress and members of the intelligence community are divided over creation of the new position, which would upset the current bureaucracy and balance of power among the spy agencies.

McClellan said the White House would work with Congress to make sure that the proposed national intelligence director has enough authority over spending and hiring and firing "so they can do the job and do it effectively." The independent commission that investigated the Sept. 11 attacks had proposed giving the new director strong powers in both areas.

Another executive order would establish the National Counter-Terrorism Center, while a third order would set guidelines for the sharing of intelligence among agencies. McClellan said the order would establish "some common standards and clear accountability measures."

"The president is committed to doing everything in his power to make sure that we are protecting the American people," his chief spokesman said.