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Updated: 2005-02-18 10:51


Bush names new intelligence chief

美国总统布什17日上午提名约翰·内格罗蓬特为首任美国国家情报局长。内格罗蓬特现年65岁,曾任美国常驻联合国代表,也是去年6月30日联军向伊拉克移交权力后的首任美国驻伊大使。

Bush names new intelligence chief
Mr Negroponte has been ambassador to the UN and to Iraq(Agencies)

President George W Bush has nominated John Negroponte as the first US director of national intelligence.

Mr Negroponte, a career diplomat, is currently the US ambassador to Iraq.

The commission which investigated the failure to foresee the 2001 attacks recommended one person be put in charge of all US intelligence operations.

The intelligence director will oversee all 15 US intelligence agencies, including the CIA and FBI, but some have warned the job lacks real powers.

Announcing the nomination, Mr Bush said the job was a vital part of US counter-terror operations.

John understands America's global intelligence needs because he has spent the better part of his life in the nation's foreign service

"If we are going to stop the terrorists before they strike, we have to ensure that the intelligence agencies work as a single unified enterprise," Mr Bush said.

He praised Mr Negroponte's credentials for the job.

"John understands America's global intelligence needs because he has spent the better part of his life in the nation's foreign service."

Accepting the nomination, Mr Negroponte said it would be "undoubtedly the most challenging assignment I have undertaken in more than 40 years of government service".

Mr Negroponte will take primary responsibility for delivering the president's daily intelligence briefing, Mr Bush said - and will set budgets for the intelligence agencies.

Mr Bush admitted that Mr Negroponte might have difficulty wresting control of military intelligence from the Pentagon - which controls 80% of the US intelligence budget.

President Bush signed a law creating the post in December, in the most comprehensive overhaul of US spying operations in 50 years.

Critics had begun to complain that the post had remained vacant for too long.

There have been reports that a number of candidates had turned the job down - and former CIA head Robert Gates has said publicly that he did so.

A former senator told the New York Times the job was an unenviable one.

"Your successes will remain secret, while your mistakes will all be public," former Senator David Boren told the newspaper.

Mr Negroponte became US ambassador to Iraq in July, after having been his country's envoy to the United Nations.

There has reportedly been little discussion of who will replace him in Baghdad.

Mr Negroponte's nomination must be confirmed by the Senate before he takes office.

Mr Bush nominated National Security Agency Director Lt Gen Michael Hayden to be Mr Negroponte's deputy.

(BBC)

 

Vocabulary:
 

vital: very necessary; of the greatest importance(非常必需的;及其重要的)

overhaul : a thorough examination and repair if necessary(大检修)

 
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