ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 23, 1990                   TAG: 9005230528
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/6   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WARNER THREATENS TO HOLD UP NOMINATION

The ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee is threatening a delay in the confirmation of a top Pentagon nominee until a dispute over civilian oversight of intelligence activities is resolved.

Sen. John Warner of Virginia expressed concern Tuesday over a classified memorandum in which the head of Special Operations Command proposed sole Defense Department oversight of military intelligence actions.

"Prior approval process of these activities now involve agencies other than the Defense Department, as it should," Warner said. "But reportedly under the proposal only the secretary of defense, on behalf of the National Command Authority, would have to approve such activities."

The memo was written by Gen. James Lindsay, commander of the Special Operations Command.

Warner told Lt. Gen. Carl Stiner, President Bush's choice to replace Lindsay, that the issue of civilian oversight could hold up his confirmation to the Defense Department post.

The controversy centers on the Defense Department's Special Operations, a combat command of specially trained Defense Department forces who operate in peace or war. The units can either support conventional forces or act in their place.

Warner expressed concerns that the defining of activities as intelligence gathering would be done without oversight from agencies other than the Defense Department.

Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga., chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said he shared Warner's concerns and the ranking members of the Senate's Intelligence Committee harbor similar misgivings.

- Associated Press 


 by CNB