WP: As Defense Chief in 1992, Cheney Opposed Intelligence Czar

[kskiska]

By Walter Pincus

While he was defense secretary in 1992, Vice President Cheney said he would recommend a presidential veto of a bill that would have established a director of national intelligence with authority over the Pentagon's intelligence-collection activities.

Cheney's view then, spelled out in two letters on March 17, 1992, to the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, differs from the position President Bush took on Monday. Bush said he supports the creation of a single intelligence director, but with no authority over the Defense Department budget pertaining to intelligence.

The Sept. 11 commission and key Republican and Democratic legislators have again recommended establishing a national intelligence director with budgetary authority over the 15 agencies that make up the U.S. intelligence community, including those in the Pentagon. The issue is central to congressional hearings on the commission's recommendations. Pentagon officials are scheduled to testify next week.

(snip)

The vice president's spokesman, Kevin Kellems, told the Associated Press that Cheney does not discuss his conversations with the president and cautioned against comparing current and historical positions.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43808-2004Aug5.html

[Spinzonner]

1. The Vice-President's Spokesliar said that Cheney doesnt

feel the need to be consistent in his policy or philosophy when important political considerations are at stake.

[Moderator]

2. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=731439