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Information
Sharing: Why Did Bush Coordinate All National Security Through Himself Via
Condi Rice?
Margie Burns has attended two D.C. press conferences and a press
briefing on the newly released 9-11 report.This, her first report,
pertains "to unclassified information that seems to have
dropped into a “memory hole.”
On February 13, 2001, George W. Bush, three weeks in the Oval Office,
issued his first official White House document pertaining to national
security. The document, called a National Security Presidential Directive
(NSPD), reorganized the National Security Council, established by
President Truman in 1947.
( http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/nspd/nspd-1.htm
)
“SUBJECT: Organization of the National Security Council System:”
“This document is the first in a series of National Security
Presidential Directives. National Security Presidential Directives shall
replace both Presidential Decision Directives and Presidential Review
Directives as an instrument for communicating presidential decisions about
the national security policies of the United States.”
The NSPD redefined “security” with a heavier emphasis on economic
matters: “National security includes the defense of the United States of
America, protection of our constitutional system of government, and the
advancement of United States interests around the globe. National security
also depends on America's opportunity to prosper in the world economy.”
Now, the memo continued, “The NSC shall advise and assist me in
integrating all aspects of national security policy as it affects the
United States - domestic, foreign, military, intelligence, and economics
(in conjunction with the National Economic Council (NEC)).”
The new priorities are fairly clear. “Regular attendees” for NSC
meetings still include the President, the Vice President, the Secretary of
State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, and the
Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs [Condoleezza
Rice], along with the CIA Director and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff. However, the Attorney General and heads of other departments and
agencies are invited to attend only “when appropriate.” The White
House Chief of Staff [Andrew Card] and the assistant to the President for
Economic Policy [then Larry Lindsey], by contrast, “are invited to
attend any NSC meeting.”
The NSPD also boosted National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice’s
place in the food chain. Rice, also three weeks in office at the time, was
slated to attend all NSC meetings, per the above, and was responsible
“for determining the agenda, ensuring that necessary papers are
prepared, and recording NSC actions and Presidential decisions.” Not
that Rice would carry the ball alone if business matters came up: “When
international economic issues are on the agenda of the NSC, [Rice] and the
Assistant to the President for Economic Policy shall perform these tasks
in concert.”
Rice was also deputed to chair meetings of the NSC Principals
Committee, which would now add international economic matters to its
security responsibilities. The NSPD further directed that meetings of the
NSC Deputies Committee be called and chaired by Rice’s Deputy, new
appointee Stephen J. Hadley.
In the interest of consolidating, “Management of . . . national
security policies by multiple agencies of the United States Government
shall usually be accomplished by the NSC Policy Coordination Committees (NSC/PCCs),”
designated “the main day-to-day fora for interagency coordination of
national security policy.”
Regrettably, in light of subsequent events, these committees are
organized by region, with Near East and North Africa separate from Europe
and Eurasia, both separate from the Western Hemisphere, and no regional
committee for North America.
Eleven separate committees were established to deal with “functional
topics” including “Counter-Terrorism and National Preparedness.”
This committee, along with six others including “Arms Control,”
“Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence,” and “Records Access and
Information Security,” was to be chaired by Rice, who also designated
each committee’s Executive Secretary.
In light of subsequent events, a single sentence is perhaps the most
dramatic statement in the NSPD: “The existing system of Interagency
Working Groups is abolished.”
The NSPD also abolished “other existing NSC interagency groups, ad
hoc bodies, and executive committees,” unless “specifically
reestablished.” Their reestablishment would be up to Rice.
Given this history, it is ironic now to see Condoleezza Rice and
Stephen Hadley taking the knife in the ribs for Bush’s bogus Iraq
pronouncements. Aside from the global perception that both are controlled
by the White House, there is that little matter of their contradictory
statements. Hadley used the “Niger uranium” argument, for example, in
February 2003, well after he knew it to be spurious.
(http://usembassy.state.gov/mumbai/wwwhwashnews200.html)
There is worse than irony, however, in hearing the consensus of the
9-11 report, that a large problem was lack of information sharing or
coordination among key agencies. How could the White House ever have
thought that abolishing the inter-agency work groups was a good idea, if
security was the objective? Why was so much responsibility placed on the
shoulders of one person, Condoleezza Rice, whose only previous foreign
affairs experience had been as a young and inexperienced Russian affairs
aide in Daddy Bush's administration? Why was national security blended
with commerce?
Above all, why was virtually total control of national security taken
over by a politically-preoccupied White House? --Margie
Burns
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