Bush Set to Act on Advice of 9/11 Panel

Bush's aides said that the White House staff worked over the weekend to figure out what it could do on its own, and that it was looking for changes that would not cost money and thus require authorization from Congress. Specifically, the White House is looking at the commission's call for the creation of incentives for agencies to share intelligence about transnational terrorism, with the report saying the " 'need to share' must replace 'need to know.' " The White House contends the president has already taken action to tighten access to ports, airports and borders, and to crack down on terrorists' funding sources. But the commission report says more must be done, and Bush's aides said announcements may be made in those areas.

Bush's aides said that the panel's most ambitious recommendations, including creation of the counterterrorism center and national intelligence director, are likely to require approval from Congress. But with Republicans controlling both chambers, Bush's endorsement could prod action before the Nov. 2 election.

National security adviser Condoleezza Rice is to arrive at the ranch on Monday to work with Bush on his response to the report. Last week, Bush directed White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. to convene a task force of national security and homeland security officials to work on intelligence changes.

Rand Beers, Kerry's national security adviser, said from Boston that the Massachusetts senator "has fully embraced the commission's recommendations and believes we need to act on them without further delay."

"In particular, we urgently need a comprehensive strategy to deal with terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism, a global coalition of nations working together and a real director of national intelligence who can lead the reform throughout the intelligence community," Beers said. "Time is not on our side."

The commission's chairman, Thomas H. Kean, said on CNN's "Late Edition" that he is encouraged by the growing acknowledgment by the nation's leaders that "there is an emergency, that these terrorists plan to attack us again as soon as possible, and therefore Congress has got to act now and not next year sometime."

Kean and the panel's vice chairman, Lee H. Hamilton, asked on NBC's "Meet the Press" whether they would consider jointly running the new intelligence agency, appeared to welcome the idea.

"I'd do anything with Lee Hamilton," Kean said. "We've established a partnership here that is -- "

"Extraordinary," Hamilton interjected.

"Extraordinary," Kean repeated.

"I'd have to think about it," Hamilton said. "I've had a marvelous experience working with Tom Kean, and I think it's been a productive one, but that's a presidential call."