Key Briefings for Kerry Delayed- Accord Pending on Intelligence Overview

[papau]

the terms for the intelligence briefings:

Bush people say Kerry's logistical preferences — i.e., out of Washington — and the request for advisers to participate is a problem

Kerry people say the administration is dragging its heels on OKing security clearances for the meetings.

"The result is that at a time when access to sensitive intelligence is more important than ever for national leaders, a skirmish between the White House and the Kerry campaign has postponed the sort of intelligence-sharing that has been standard during presidential races over the past half-century."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13218-2004Aug18.html

Key Briefings for Kerry Delayed
Accord Pending on Intelligence Overview

By Dana Milbank
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 19, 2004; Page A23


Aides to President Bush and John F. Kerry are sparring over the terms for intelligence briefings for the Democratic presidential nominee, delaying the post-convention overview typically given to the challenger.

Those on Bush's side say the Kerry campaign is insisting on having briefings outside of Washington -- a hardship for top CIA officials during a time of heightened threats -- and is demanding that an unusually large number of Kerry advisers be permitted to participate in the highly classified sessions. Those on Kerry's side say it is the Bush administration that has been slow to deal with the logistics, including security clearances, needed for the briefings.

The result is that at a time when access to sensitive intelligence is more important than ever for national leaders, a skirmish between the White House and the Kerry campaign has postponed the sort of intelligence-sharing that has been standard during presidential races over the past half-century.

On Aug. 2, the Monday after the Democratic convention, Bush's national security adviser Condoleezza Rice called Kerry foreign policy adviser Rand Beers to offer intelligence briefings. When Beers, who was vacationing, returned Rice's call Aug. 5, the two agreed to set up the briefings. But nearly two weeks later, there has been no progress in the discussions.

"We've been given the runaround and bounced around so much that we wonder who's in charge of this," a senior Kerry campaign aide said.<snip>

[wurzel]

1. "A hardship for top CIA officials??

We are talking here of intelligence briefings to the next President of the United States!

[zbdent]

2. I wonder, if he did make the time to show up for the so-called "missed

meetings", would the Repukes on the committee have rescheduled them for a later time, just like they did with that Senate vote that Kerry flew in for?