July 28, 2004: Headlines: Staff: Intelligence Issues: Charleston Daily Mail: Sen. Jay Rockefeller has stayed home from the Democratic Convention to concentrate on the Sept. 11 report

Peace Corps Online: Directory: USA: Special Report: Jay Rockefeller worked on Peace Corps Staff in the 1960's: July 28, 2004: Headlines: Staff: Intelligence Issues: Charleston Daily Mail: Sen. Jay Rockefeller has stayed home from the Democratic Convention to concentrate on the Sept. 11 report

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Sen. Jay Rockefeller has stayed home from the Democratic Convention to concentrate on the Sept. 11 report

Sen. Jay Rockefeller has stayed home from the Democratic Convention to concentrate on the Sept. 11 report

Sen. Jay Rockefeller has stayed home from the Democratic Convention to concentrate on the Sept. 11 report

Senator studies report

Brad McElhinny
Daily Mail staff

Wednesday July 28, 2004

Sen. Jay Rockefeller has stayed home from the Democratic Convention to concentrate on the Sept. 11 report.

Instead of cheering fellow Sen. John Kerry on toward nomination, Rockefeller is in his Washington, D.C., office, reading the 500-page report and debating what action Congress should take in implementing its findings.

Early on, Rockefeller says he favors establishing a director of national intelligence to oversee all of the country's spy agencies. He also is starting to favor changes to congressional oversight that would give a beefed up Intelligence Committee the power of the purse.

"Urgency has to be the driving force here," Rockefeller said. "The nation is at danger. We don't know where or when, but we don't doubt something is going to happen. What's the excuse in waiting? There is none."

The parents of one victim of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks say they are pleased that Rockefeller is reading the report rather than leading the cheers in Boston.

"It's very gratifying," said Ken Ambrose of Barboursville, the father of American Airlines Flight 77 passenger Paul Ambrose.

"I think all the families of the victims are wanting things done that will help prevent something from occurring to any other families again."

After the Sept. 11 report was released last week, members of Congress initially were criticized for going on their annual summer break rather than focusing on the report.

"Let's just fix it," said Sharon Ambrose, Paul's mother. "It would be so disappointing if nothing were done. That would be tragic."

The Senate Intelligence Committee, where Rockefeller is the top Democrat, might start scheduling August hearings to deal with the Sept. 11 report.

"I need to understand it and its various nuances," Rockefeller said. "It's treading on a lot of very new territory. We're talking about reorganization of government, reorganization of Congress."

Rockefeller says he favors a director overseeing all 15 U.S. intelligence agencies. The report also calls for the formation of an interagency counterterrorism center.

Rockefeller also initially favors changes that would give the intelligence committees of both houses of Congress the power to set the budgets of intelligence agencies.

"I think there is a lot to be said for that," Rockefeller said.

Doing so, though, might take power from other areas of the government, specifically the military and its intelligence-gathering units.

"All kinds of people's toes are going to be stepped on," he said. "We're going to have to say what is best for the nation, what is best for intelligence, what is best for security."

Rockefeller also wants the Sept. 11 Commission to be extended for another 18 months to continue its pressure on the government.

John Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee, called for the same thing Tuesday.

Several aides to President Bush said he and his staff are working to adopt at least some of the commission's recommendations in August.

"This is a subject we can't escape," Rockefeller said. "There will be no five-year deliberations about this. This has to be put in place. The faster we get at this, the better."

Contact writer Brad McElhinny at 348-4872.





When this story was prepared, here was the front page of PCOL magazine:

This Month's Issue: August 2004 This Month's Issue: August 2004
Teresa Heinz Kerry celebrates the Peace Corps Volunteer as one of the best faces America has ever projected in a speech to the Democratic Convention. The National Review disagreed and said that Heinz's celebration of the PCV was "truly offensive." What's your opinion and who can come up with the funniest caption for our Current Events Funny?

Exclusive: Director Vasquez speaks out in an op-ed published exclusively on the web by Peace Corps Online saying the Dayton Daily News' portrayal of Peace Corps "doesn't jibe with facts."

In other news, the NPCA makes the case for improving governance and explains the challenges facing the organization, RPCV Bob Shaconis says Peace Corps has been a "sacred cow", RPCV Shaun McNally picks up support for his Aug 10 primary and has a plan to win in Connecticut, and the movie "Open Water" based on the negligent deaths of two RPCVs in Australia opens August 6. Op-ed's by RPCVs: Cops of the World is not a good goal and Peace Corps must emphasize community development.


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Story Source: Charleston Daily Mail

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Staff; Intelligence Issues

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