Bush Weighs Overhaul of Intelligence Services [View All]

Aides Say He Will Await 9/11 Panel's Suggestions

By Dana Milbank and Mike Allen

CRAWFORD, Tex., April 12 -- President Bush said Monday that he is contemplating a major overhaul of the nation's intelligence services and scheduled a prime-time news conference for Tuesday to build domestic support for his strategy in Iraq.

Bush, speaking to reporters at his ranch with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak at his side, said that "now may be a time to revamp and reform our intelligence services." Aides said he is likely to wait for recommendations, scheduled for this summer, from the independent commission investigating the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"We look forward to hearing recommendations," Bush said. "We're thinking about that, ourselves, and we look forward to working with the commission."

(snip)

Iraq and the administration's response to threats before the attacks promise to be prominent topics as Bush meets reporters in the East Room at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. By requesting such a visible forum to explain his actions, Bush departed markedly from the past week, in which he has been mostly out of view on his Texas ranch as he endured a stream of criticism about the adequacy of his plans for suppressing an uprising against the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6558-2004Apr12.html