NationStates Jolt Archive

http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=KMVOVVGXLKQLMCRBAE0CFEY?type=topNews&storyID=7009615&pageNumber=1
They haven't passed it yet, but the main opposition has been neutralized. It should be passed sometime on Tuesday, and sent to the president for his signature. I'm glad that the US has a major policy change it can start the new year with, and one many of us can agree is rather good, if not exactly what we want.

http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=KMVOVVGXLKQLMCRBAE0CFEY?type=topNews&storyID=7009615&pageNumber=1
They haven't passed it yet, but the main opposition has been neutralized. It should be passed sometime on Tuesday, and sent to the president for his signature. I'm glad that the US has a major policy change it can start the new year with, and one many of us can agree is rather good, if not exactly what we want.


Its an excuse to give more funding to the defense contractors.

Its an excuse to give more funding to the defense contractors.
what's your solution?

Its an excuse to give more funding to the defense contractors.
It's anything but that. Right now, the Pentagon has control of 80% of the intelligence budget. Under this new law, it'd be reduced to 15%, primarily for tactical intelligence. If anything, the contractors that will benefit are those researching into other forms of spying, like counter-intelligence, or maybe forensic accounting.

Well, the bill passed through the Senate without a hitch. The only two senators that voted against it happen to be my two least favorite: Robert Byrd, and James Inhofe. That nonwithstanding, the president should sign it in a day or two.

Well......

We have a Russian transplant and he said he was not so sure about the new director position.

He said for all this countries animosity about the old USSR, they are quick to pickup a KGB structure of it's intelligence agency.

Well......

We have a Russian transplant and he said he was not so sure about the new director position.

He said for all this countries animosity about the old USSR, they are quick to pickup a KGB structure of it's intelligence agency.
The KGB had the opposite problem. For one, it also acted as an international police force for the Soviet Union. For another, it had far too much bureaocracy. That may happen, but I personally doubt it. Besides, as far as I'm aware, this does allow some autonomy for the various intelligence agencies, but this new position is to coordinate operations when needed. The Sept. 11 attacks happened, in part, because no one in Washington talked to eachother.

The KGB had the opposite problem. For one, it also acted as an international police force for the Soviet Union. For another, it had far too much bureaocracy. That may happen, but I personally doubt it. Besides, as far as I'm aware, this does allow some autonomy for the various intelligence agencies, but this new position is to coordinate operations when needed. The Sept. 11 attacks happened, in part, because no one in Washington talked to eachother.

I have to confess as to not following it as much.

The main guy for the new org, did they set him up as his own entity?

The fellow said the Head of the KGB was powerful in his own right.....

For a minute I thought those inverse-intelligence Republicans had attempted to reform the definition of "intelligence" as "the union between one foot and one pig", ala George W.

I have to confess as to not following it as much.

The main guy for the new org, did they set him up as his own entity?

The fellow said the Head of the KGB was powerful in his own right.....
It's not exactly a new organization. It really just creates a new position in the Cabinet, where he controls the budget, and has the final say in all operations. I'm sure he'll end up getting a nice office building to himself in Washington, but only one new agency will come of this, and that is one specifically meant for counterrorism. The only problem I see is that it'll be like the drug operations: there's the DIA to specifically handle it, and there are also departments in the FBI, ATF, and US Marshall program to do the same thing.

I wish the bill included more security measures such as a limit on visa renewals. The harder it is for illegals to enter America, the better.

I wish the bill included more security measures such as a limit on visa renewals. The harder it is for illegals to enter America, the better.


I agree!

Well, as I said before, I have no problem with this bill, and I still don't. However, from what I read, it seems like this may be percieved by some as the son of the USA PATRIOT act. One provision is that terrorists are held without bail, and while they can ask for it, the burden of proof is on them. This is done with most violent crimes. Another is expanding the government's authority for searches. Again, I have no problem with this, but I have a feeling that this will be a political football.

I wish the bill included more security measures such as a limit on visa renewals. The harder it is for illegals to enter America, the better.

If they have a visa then they aren't illegal.

I wish the bill included more security measures such as a limit on visa renewals. The harder it is for illegals to enter America, the better.
That'll have to wait. It's too politically divisive of an issue, and quite frankly, I don't think it'd look good if another terrorist attack happened because this bill was delayed.