Obama Is Reported Set to Revise Counterterrorism Efforts

Photo: John O. Brennan, once seen as a potential C.I.A. director, may handle counterterrorism. Lawrence Jackson/Associated Press

From The New York Times:

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.

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My Comment: The message is clear .... no independent agencies will be permitted in President Obama's Government. Everything relating to security issues will be coordinated from his office via the National Security Agency.

Instead of reporting directly to the President .... he (President Obama) is to be insulated by having this new counter terrorism advisor report directly to the National Security Advisor. Limiting info to one group that cannot be contradicted by another indepedent group is probably not a good idea .... But President Obama and his advisors have different ideas.