By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 13, 2004
Filed at 11:04 a.m. ET
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Secretary of State Colin Powell and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge on Monday endorsed creating a new national intelligence director to coordinate the nation's intelligence agencies, telling senators that giving the position real power will help keep America safe.
``A strong national intelligence director is essential,'' Powell told the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee at a morning hearing. ``That strength is gained by giving the NID full budget authority.''
The two secretaries also said a new intelligence director will also help them do their job.
``Do you believe that a strong national intelligence director... will improve the quality of intelligence you both receive?'' asked Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the committee's chair.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Congress-Intelligence.html