| Amid a heated election-year debate on intelligence reform, President Bush prepared to sign executive orders Friday strengthening the powers of the CIA director and establishing a new national counterterrorism center. The moves will "improve our ability to find, track and stop terrorists," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said. One executive order will give the CIA director additional authority on an interim basis to perform many of the functions of a proposed national intelligence director who would oversee all 15 of the nation's intelligence agencies. Bush also will work with Congress to create the position of national intelligence director, McClellan said. |