Periscope

In theory, the CIA chief runs U.S. intelligence. In reality, the Pentagon controls 80 percent of the intel budget, and the Defense secretary runs the three key intelligence-gathering agencies: the National Security Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office and the National Imagery and Mapping Agency. Scowcroft's panel concluded that a string of intelligence failures, culminating in 9-11, was due in part to this CIA-DOD imbalance. It said the CIA chief needs power over the DOD agencies. Rumsfeld's reply: give him an under secretary to run the agencies. Reformers scoff at making an under secretary so powerful. But Rumsfeld is riding high after Afghan-istan; the White House may not want to take him on. Scowcroft, the CIA and the White House declined to comment; the Pentagon did not return three calls seeking comment.

John Barry