President-elect Obama is prepared to scrap Bush’s homeland security office

[babylonsister]

How much do I love this? Let me count the ways...

Obama Is Reported Set to Revise Counterterrorism Efforts

By PETER BAKER
Published: January 7, 2009


WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama is preparing to scrap the way President Bush oversaw domestic security in the White House and name a former Central Intelligence Agency official to coordinate counterterrorism, people close to the transition said Wednesday.

The plan being discussed would eliminate the independent homeland security adviser’s office and assign those duties to the National Security Council to streamline sometimes overlapping functions. A deputy national security adviser would be charged with overseeing the effort to guard against terrorism and to respond to natural disasters.

Democrats close to the transition said Mr. Obama’s choice for that job was John O. Brennan, a longtime C.I.A. veteran who was the front-runner to head the spy agency until withdrawing in November amid criticism of his views on interrogation and detention policies. His appointment would not require Senate confirmation.

Mr. Obama has made no final decision about how to structure domestic security in his White House, and advisers plan to wait until his inauguration to conduct a formal review. But many key advisers have publicly advocated folding it into the National Security Council, and those involved in discussions said the only real questions appeared to be how to do that and how to explain it without looking like domestic security was being downgraded as a priority.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/08/us/politics/08council.html?_r=1&ref=us

[yardwork]

1. I thought he appointed Napolitano head of Homeland Security.

I'm confused.

[babylonsister]

2. He did, but there's going to be a shake-up of the way things

have been done (that don't work). I'm sure Napolitano is privy to how this will happen.

[yardwork]

6. Others are saying that the department itself might be eliminated.

I'm not sure exactly what today's news means. It sounds like a step in the right direction, that's for sure.

[ThomWV]

4. Hate to be picayune about it, but no, he has said he will nominate her

Her appointment can only follow after Senate confirmation, and of course Obama's inauguration.

[yardwork]

7. Right, I understand. He can't "appoint" her yet. Now I'm wondering if he will.

I'm wondering if this signals a decision to eliminate the DHS entirely, which would be a very good thing I think.

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. This would eliminate a WH Homeland Security advisor's office, not the Dept. of Homeland Security

[yardwork]

8. I've never been clear on how they're all arranged. No transparency from the chimp of course.

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. It is not that complicated

There are various offices within and related to the White House which provide policy advice to the President. The one that Obama is eliminating is one of them. The Secretary of Homeland Security is a cabinet-level position which is responsible for running the DHS.

[yardwork]

13. Then this isn't that big a deal? To bad. I was hoping the entire office could go.

[ThomWV]

3. Rescind the Patriot Act too while they are at it

[yardwork]

9. That would be hugh1111

[bdamomma]

10. pack it in, useless department.

[Eurobabe]

12. Homeland Security always sounded so 1930s anyhow

Let's see how this shakes out.

[babylonsister]

14. Yea, 1930s Germany. I hate the name. nt