Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Bush Fails to Fill White House WMD Position


Newsweek reported "more than a year after Congress passed a law creating a White House "czar" to focus on the weapons of mass destruction issue, the post has yet to be filled-the apparent victim of yet another clash over presidential powers."

The position was recommended by the 9/11 Commission and included in a bill passed summer 2007. The issue is reporting to Congress. President Bush is loathe to have any White House employee answer to the people's legislature. The story noted:

Top White House lawyers, led by David Addington, Vice President Dick Cheney's ever-vigilant chief of staff, recoiled at the idea of creating a new White House office whose director was answerable to Congress, according to two sources (who asked not to be identified talking about internal matters.)

Another kink could be existing positions charged with monitoring WMD. Paul Wolfowitz has such a role in the State Department. He might not want to share. Wolfowitz and Addington, haven't they made enough messes?