GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan, Aug 2 (AFP) - Democratic challenger John Kerry on Monday called on President George W. Bush to convene Congress now to implement recommendations by a commission that probed the September 11 attacks.
"I'm pleased the president has adopted some of the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.
"But we are at war, and when we are at war, we need to do things rapidly," he told reporters in Michigan, one of the key states in November 2 balloting for president.
After an alert Sunday about possible terror strikes on important US and world financial institutions, US President George W. Bush joined a chorus calling for the creation of a national counter-terrorism center to thwart future terrorist attacks, as recommended by a commission reporting on the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington.
"I regret it has taken almost three years," Kerry said.
"I regret the president seems to have no sense of urgency" in making this decision, he said.
"The time is to act now, not later," Kerry said. "That means a special session (of Congress) now."
The post of a national intelligence director, which Bush has promised, must be created by Congress, which is in recess until September.
If Congress is to be reconvened, Kerry, a senator from Massachusetts, said he would suspend his campaign long enough to be counted as present in Washington.
"My interest is to protect the United States more effectively," Kerry said.
"When it's necessary to vote, I will."
The new post and the new center were among the recommendations by the official commission that investigated the government failures leading up to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.