Obama's NSC Will Get Sweeping New Powers

Washington Post via MSNBC ^ | February 8, 2009 | Karen DeYoung

[John W]

Result of directive expands security body's role far beyond traditional range

President Obama plans to order a sweeping overhaul of the National Security Council, expanding its membership and increasing its authority to set strategy across a wide spectrum of international and domestic issues.

The result will be a "dramatically different" NSC from that of the Bush administration or any of its predecessors since the forum was established after World War II to advise the president on diplomatic and military matters, according to national security adviser James L. Jones, who described the changes in an interview.

[Diogenesis]

Inquiring minds want to know, and the souls of the dead
from 911 and the USS COLE want to know:
Who will benefit from these "new" powers?

The American public ..... or terrorists.

[Raycpa]

More cooks oughta make a better stew even if we can’t get them all into the kitchen at the same time.

[Mark was here]

It is just another place to hide bodies on the payroll. Bet the DUmmies will be overjoyed.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

National Security by committee, like the old Soviet Politburo.

[kabar]

Obama will benefit. This centralizes more control in the WH.

[Erik Latranyi]

On one hand, you have National Security be Committee.

On the other hand, you have Jones saying this: But he made clear he plans to apply military-like discipline to the NSC.

They are conflicted in what they are planning. You cannot have a committee with the goal of everyone agreeing while applying military-like discipline.

This is a guaranteed fubar.

[Vigilanteman]

Who will benefit? The American people, of course. The Dear Leader needs enhanced powers to protect his sheep.

[pleikumud]

New Politburo, new USSR.

[IrishCatholic]

Bookmark for later.
It looks like dissent is out of style again after the last eight years.
Spying domestically, however, is in. It isn't a violation of anyone’s rights when the Democratic Party does it.

[Canedawg]

It’s another step towards the US becoming a fascist, totalitarian state.

[John W]

Thats what I thought after reading the headline and first paragraph. But, after that his actual quotes just descend into gobbledygook and doublespeak.

[Canedawg]

We’re in the Age of Orwellian doublespeak.

What “they” say is good is really bad.

What “they” say we need to do is really what we DO NOT need to do.

But once power become highly centralized and dissenting voices are silenced, it will be too late.

Arendt’s writings on totalitarian Germany are highly relevant.

[Vaduz]

President Obama plans to order a sweeping overhaul of the National Security Council the sad is part 90% of obama voters are clueless of the council and could care less.

[KevinDavis]

Well the day that we are rue with the “Patriot Act” in law and the “Department of Homeland Security” being created is coming soon...

[DarthVader]

This is more Jimmy Carter like micro-management and destined to be another CF.

[elk]

WHo will be the object of scrutiny by these new powers? The American people or the terrorists?

[Grampa Dave]

“Who will benefit from these “new” powers?
The American public ..... or terrorists?”

[winkadink]

Do you suppose this goes hand-in-hand with the “detention camps” being built in the USofA? I do.

[livius]

The new structure, to be outlined in a presidential directive and a detailed implementation document by Jones, will expand the NSC's reach far beyond the range of traditional foreign policy issues and turn it into a much more elastic body, with Cabinet and departmental seats at the table -- historically occupied only by the secretaries of defense and state -- determined on an issue-by-issue basis. Jones said the directive will probably be completed this week...New NSC directorates will deal with such department-spanning 21st-century issues as cybersecurity, energy, climate change, nation-building and infrastructure. Many of the functions of the Homeland Security Council, established as a separate White House entity by President Bush after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, may be subsumed into the expanded NSC...

Wow. Barry's simply making an end-run around our established Constitutional government. First his "czars" that essentially outrank Cabinet members and report to him directly, and now this.