No, then Yes--or Vice Versa

The Bush administration is taking steps that may further clarify the US intelligence gathering system. Douglas Jehl writes a very helpful article in the NYT on the reorganization plan.
I have followed this story since the publication of the 9/11 Commission Report. [see my June 6, 2005 blog post; see also the current status of the commission here].

• I feel positive about the administration's willingness, once again, to stop resisting needed organizational reform and get on with the people's business. They have almost always said no to fixing things, then finally the light bulb goes on and they implement most of the the needed changes.
• Speaking of the people's business, Congress has miserably failed to implement needed reform of its own intelligence oversight committees. Following the Commission Report's publication, the House and Senate held dozens of hearings, passed bills, said yes to committee overhaul, and I felt so very positive as I watched many of these hearings from beginning to end. Then the legislators fell way short of doing anything meaningful. Turf battles, between and among powerful men saying no, torpedoed any significant committee structure reforms.
• None of the executive branch reorganization will amount to a hill of beans without constant and appropriate lawmaker oversight. Congress should say yes to to the level of reform it has demanded of the executive branch.