Reply #6: Intelligence chief (Negroponte): U.S. safer since 9/11: rejects criticism [View All]

CNN: Intelligence chief: U.S. safer since 9/11
Negroponte rejects criticism that reform is moving too slowly
From David Ensor
CNN Washington Bureau


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In his first one-on-one interview as the nation's first director of national intelligence, John Negroponte told CNN, "I think our country is safer today" because of better integrated intelligence efforts.

He also rejected criticism that his office may be moving too slowly.

"I think the story is quite the contrary," he said, pointing to a new National Clandestine Service, which includes all the nation's spies, and a new National Security Branch at the FBI. (Read about the findings from the former 9/11 commission that disagrees)

Negroponte said the nation's intelligence has been improved since December 8, 2004, when Congress approved an intelligence reform law creating his office, despite "the fact that we've been operating from temporary quarters." (View an organizational chart of the restructured intelligence community)...

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Critics -- including some key members of Congress and former senior intelligence officials -- have complained that Negroponte's team is moving too slowly to implement change in the intelligence community. (Watch how others think Negroponte's doing -- 2:24)...


http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/12/02/negroponte/index.html