Gibbons: Congress now must focus on intelligence changes

Kirsten Searer

Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2004 | 11:17 a.m.

Rep. Jim Gibbons said Monday he was encouraged by news that President Bush is calling for a retooling of the nation's intelligence operations.

On Monday Bush called for a new national intelligence director, partly in response to the recently released recommendations from the 9/11 commission.

Now, Gibbons said, it's time for Congress to focus on its own reform. Gibbons, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, is preparing to return to Washington for hearings on the issue.

"We want to look at how we do our own self-appraisal and overhaul in Congress," he said. "I think that's just as important as looking at the administrative."

But he cautioned Monday that many of the recommendations set out by the commission already have been implemented.

"I think we've got a few more things to look at but we've made great progress over the last three or four years," he said.

"We want to look at these proposals that remain to be implemented," he said. "We want to look at the president's thoughts on this. It's very important to get President Bush's perspective, as well."

Gibbons was in Las Vegas Monday to speak at a luncheon for the Nevada Republican Men's Club. More than 100 people gathered at Ellis Island Casino and Brewery to hear Gibbons' message on the importance of the war on terrorism.

Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction that he used on his own people, a proven relationship with al-Qaida, a track record of funding suicide bombers and was a sworn enemy of the United States, Gibbons said.

The Clinton administration dealt with terrorists by sending them to federal court, but Bush has acted more forcefully, Gibbons said.

Nevada Democrats had different views.

"I am glad the president took these actions to implement recommendations of the 9/11 Commission," said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., in a statement. "But it is still not enough. We need to do everything we can to secure our country and fight terrorism, and I will do everything I can in my capacity as a senator to ensure all recommendations are looked at and put into practice."

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., supports the 9/11 commission's recommendation of a central intelligence post but has not taken a firm position on it yet.

Berkley spokesman David Cherry said the congresswoman "is listening to all sides in this debate, and is in support of the 9/11 commission's recommendations that we move swiftly and in a bipartisan manner toward reforms that will make our nation safer and our intelligence agencies more accountable."