National Intelligence Oversight

General Mike Hayden is a military man, not a sabre rattler.
On July 28 he appeared before a hearing that was welcomed by many of us, Governmental affairs "junkies" like me, who have watched the progress of intelligence reform since last year. I have admired how much of the 911 Commission's report has been implemented, and I was anxious to see how the new intelligence structure is falling into place.
General Hayden was well received during his appearance before the sub-committee. He has often testified at similar hearings, having spent many years in positions of high authority in intelligence for the Defense Department. The House Subcommittee on Oversight , sitting under the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, heard lengthy testimony on the process of reform from General Hayden, named second in command under new Director of National Intelligence, John Negroponte.
The Subcommittee was led by Chairman, Mac Thornberry (R-TX), and Ranking Member, Robert E. (Bud) Cramer (D-AL). According to the New York Times Washington bureau story,

“General Hayden's testimony to the subcommittee was the first given to Congress by a member of Mr. Negroponte's team since his office was established 90 days ago. The creation of that office was the most significant overhaul of the American intelligence apparatus in half a century, and General Hayden said he believed that it had left the agencies equipped to act with more agility and speed to combat terrorism and other national security threats”.
The Thursday committee meeting was a popular venue for many members of the parent House committee on intelligence, including Chairman Peter Hoekstra (R-MI), and Ranking Member, Jane Harmon (D-CA). Hoekstra and Harmon serve as ex-officio members.
In the case of both committees, a bipartisan climate has been present in generous proportions during the reform process. In fact, many would say that ability to cooperate was what broke last year's House intelligence reform legislative logjam, put up by Rep. Duncan Hunter and a number of other territorial hawks.