CRAWFORD, Texas, July 26 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush could act "within days" on recommendations from the September 11 panel for overhauling US intelligence efforts, White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan said Monday.
But the White House has not yet decided how to proceed on one central piece of the commission's advice, the creation of a Cabinet-level "czar" to run all intelligence agencies, according to a senior administration official.
Bush and top aides have been discussing which of the commission's suggestions he can implement as president and which require congressional action, which could lead to a protracted election-year debate, she said.
"The president could certainly act within days on some," Buchan said after Bush took part in a secure videoconference with White House chief of staff Andy Card and 11 other senior officials who are assessing the report's advice.
The senior administration official, who requested anonymity, told AFP that he believes the creation of a national director for intelligence would require legislation, but that the White House has not yet formally agreed.
"Nothing is off the table right now," he said. But "I think that needs to be legislated, because it gets back to the National Security Act of 1947," which created the CIA and the national security council, the official said.
The president has been relaxing at his Texas ranch while opposition Democrats held their national convention to anoint Senator John Kerry their champion in the November 2 elections.