WASHINGTON

KISSINGER WARNING ON INTELLIGENCE POST

Henry Kissinger warned Congress yesterday to slow down the creation of a new intelligence superboss and said he and other cold warriors think only deliberation would ensure the change won’t hurt America’s intelligence and security capabilities.

The former secretary of state said he and his colleagues worry “that reform of the magnitude that is being talked about … should not be rushed through in the last week of the congressional session in the middle of a presidential election campaign.”

Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Mr. Kissinger said, “The consequences of this reform will inevitably produce months and maybe years of turmoil as the adjustments are made.”

Mr. Kissinger was national security adviser and then secretary of state for President Nixon. He now is a foreign-policy consultant.

Lawmakers plan to create a national intelligence director in response to the September 11 commission’s complaint that a failure to cooperate by the nation’s 15 military and civilian intelligence agencies precluded an effective defense that could have prevented the terror attacks on New York City and Washington.

– Associated Press

SINGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS CAT STEVENS SHOWS UP ON WATCH LIST

A plane bound for Washington from London was diverted to Maine yesterday after passenger Yusuf Islam – formerly known as pop singer Cat Stevens – showed up on a U.S. watch list, federal officials said.

United Airlines Flight 919 had already taken off from London en route to Dulles International Airport when the match was made between the passenger and the watch list, said a spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration, Nico Melendez.

The plane was met by federal agents at Maine’s Bangor International Airport around 3 p.m., Mr. Melendez said. Federal officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, identified the individual as Mr. Islam.

One official said Mr. Islam, 56, was identified by the Advanced Passenger Information System, which requires airlines to send passenger information to U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center.

TSA was then contacted and requested that the plane land at the nearest airport, the official said.

– Associated Press

MIDWEST

JUDGE DECLINES TO HALT PRINTING OF NAME

LINCOLN, Neb. – A federal judge declined a request yesterday from the ACLU to stop the Omaha World-Herald from naming an atheist who sued over a Ten Commandments monument displayed in a public park.

U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf said there was no proof the restraint was appropriate. In a statement, the man said if his name is revealed, he would consider moving his family from Plattsmouth because his life has been threatened. The city is south of Omaha.

The ACLU said it would have to speak to the man before deciding the next move.

The ACLU filed suit in 2001 on behalf of the man, alleging the monument violates the First Amendment and Supreme Court rulings on the separation of church and state.

At trial, the judge agreed with the ACLU, saying the monument “conveys a message that Christianity and Judaism are favored religions.” The ruling was appealed, and was argued last week before the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

– Associated Press

EAST

HOME OF FDA MAY BUY DRUGS FROM CANADA

ROCKVILLE, Md.-The county that is home to the Food and Drug Administration took a first step yesterday toward buying prescription drugs from Canada, despite FDA warnings that such a practice would be illegal.

In a 7-2 vote, the Montgomery County Council passed a resolution that instructs county benefits managers to solicit bids from companies that sell Canadian prescription drugs to Americans. The council hopes to have the program in place by February 1.

The suburban Washington county would join several other states and jurisdictions that have turned to Canada and other foreign countries to try to hold down prescription drug costs for public employees.

Several council members who voted for the resolution were emboldened by the FDA’s failure to sue in those cases, saying it is a sign the agency is reluctant to enforce its position.

“The credibility of the FDA is being called into question,” said Council President Steven Silverman. “They can’t have it both ways.”

The FDA, headquartered in Rockville, has sent warning letters to governments that have adopted similar plans and has filed legal action against some suppliers.

– Associated Press

JUDGE RECOMMENDS COURT MARTIAL

FORT BRAGG, N.C.- A military judge has recommended a court-martial for Private First Class Lynndie England in the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal, but said the young Army reservist was “easily led” and had been “heavily influenced” by an ex-boyfriend, who is also charged in the case.

Army Reserve Colonel Denise J. Arn, who presided over Private England’s military pretrial hearing, recommended that the Fort Ashby, W.Va., woman be tried on 17 counts, including abuse and indecent acts stemming from photographs showing her smiling and gesturing at naked and hooded Iraqi prisoners at the Baghdad prison.

Colonel Arn found insufficient evidence for two assault charges and rejected a prosecution request to add a charge of “maltreatment and cruelty” against the 21-year-old personnel clerk.

While finding there is enough evidence to proceed to trial, Colonel Arn said it “does not escape notice that Private England was one of the younger participants, if not the youngest, in the incidents that gave rise to the allegations against her.”

– Associated Press