Joe Lieberman: “Perhaps it was my language that was confusing. I do not think the statutory language is. The fact is, there is an…”

“Perhaps it was my language that was confusing. I do not think the statutory language is. The fact is, there is an addition of authority to the NID--there is no question about that--that the DCI does not have, and that is to issue and manage collection and analysis tasking. What I was trying to say earlier, and I want to distinguish this, is the current law enables the DCI to convene the agency representatives, which they do every day, to resolve and decide where our national assets go, and then to resolve a conflict, as described in the language that I read from, which is what the current DCI has. We have added, very importantly, and the Senator is right, the ability of the national intelligence director additionally to issue and manage collection and analysis tasking.”