Sept. 11 commissioner asks for public support

ST. LOUIS -- A Sept. 11 commissioner, Jim Thompson, urged an audience of public officials and civic club members Thursday to hold elected officials accountable for implementing the commission's recommendations.

"If something bad happens, and it's traced back to a failure to put in place the policies of the kind in this book--" Thompson said, holding up a copy of the commission's 567-page report, "--the backlash would be harsh indeed, and remembered for generations."

Thompson, a former Illinois governor, spoke in a crowded ballroom at a Rotary Club luncheon in downtown St. Louis. He appeared as part of a nationwide tour by commission members promoting the panel's recommendations. Thompson appeared with fellow commissioner Timothy Roemer on Wednesday in Chicago.

On Thursday, Thompson spent much of his speech explaining the commission's findings and suggestions.

Thompson expressed satisfaction with President Bush's moves to create a national director of intelligence, but said without the budget and personnel control recommended by the commission, the position would be simply another czar -- "a guy with a big fancy title and no authority."

Bipartisan spiritThe position as proposed would oversee all 15 agencies in the intelligence community, including those currently under the Defense Department's jurisdiction. Bush said earlier this month that he supports the idea, but he envisioned giving the director the authority to "coordinate" budgets without having the final say over how much money is spent where.

Thompson expressed a hope that the bipartisan spirit of the commission would carry over into political discussions about how to make the country safer.

Democrats and Republicans have sparred during congressional hearings called to review the report, which was released July 22. Republicans primarily have urged careful consideration of the commission's recommendations. Many Democratic leaders have called for fast legislative action.

Thompson also emphasized the need for cooperation not only between national agencies, but between intelligence organizations and local authorities.

"Local law enforcement on the street is often the first source of information -- not the FBI or the CIA," said Thompson.

Missouri state representative and Democratic 3rd District candidate Russ Carnahan said before the speech that an appreciation for local authorities' importance should be matched by adequate funding.

"I think the priority ... is to make sure we have those local efforts-- the people that are the first responders, the local police -- to make sure they have the tools they need, so they don't just have extra burdens without the support," Carnahan said.