Americans worried about CIA reshuffle

WASHINGTON -- As the United States braces for a threatened terrorist attack this summer, top intelligence officials will be shuffling jobs. The question is whether Americans should worry.

"I really regret it," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. "I think it's the wrong thing at the wrong time."

CIA director George J. Tenet said last week he was resigning. It became known soon thereafter that James Pavitt, head of the agency's clandestine service, also was leaving in midsummer.

Feinstein, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said after learning of Tenet's announcement that it was "startling ... because of the time we're in and the situation."

"To the average American, it definitely doesn't look good," said Thomas M. Sanderson, an analyst who has studied terrorists and terrorism policy for the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency.

News of the departures came just a week after the top law enforcement officials said they believe al-Qaida terrorists are close to completing a plan for a major strike on America.

Attorney General John Ashcroft said a steady stream of "disturbing" intelligence, collected for months, indicated that terrorists already are in the United States to execute the plan.

Officials are particularly concerned about upcoming high-profile, large gatherings such as the political conventions this summer, the July Fourth holiday and the fall elections.

McLaughlin's credibility

"I think what we need is continuity right now because this nation is on alert," Feinstein said.

Much-criticized for the intelligence failures of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and faulty prewar intelligence on Iraq, Tenet announced Thursday he was leaving to spend more time with his family.

Pavitt made his decision to retire several weeks ago, well before Tenet's resignation, though it was officially announced to the agency's workers Friday.

Stephen Kappes, a 23-year agency veteran, is expected to take over Pavitt's job at the division responsible for foreign intelligence gathering.

It was not clear whether Bush soon will nominate Tenet's successor or steer clear during the presidential campaign, avoiding debate over intelligence failures in what could be a tough confirmation fight.

Bush has asked Tenet's deputy, John McLaughlin, to temporarily head the agency after Tenet leaves in mid-July.

On Capitol Hill, there were questions about how much credibility McLaughlin will have, given that he oversaw intelligence analysis during the Iraq weapons miscalculations.

Some said it was Tenet and his strong personality who kept a check on the Pentagon, where most of the intelligence budget is spent and where some civilian leaders aggressively push their own intelligence views.

Others said it may not ultimately matter who heads the agency temporarily because it is a huge, well-oiled operation that will continue to function regardless.

"The director is just one person on top," said Richard K. Betts, a former staffer at the National Security Council and the Senate Intelligence Committee who teaches political science at Columbia University. He added, "everyone ... will be so sensitized to not missing a warning, that the system will be doing about as well as it can no matter who's at the top."

"If any warning bubbles up," he said, "it probably won't be hard to get the attention of the White House."