Haley Stevens: “This amendment strikes ``joint operations'' and inserts in lieu thereof ``strategic planning.'' The bill under…”

“This amendment strikes ``joint operations'' and inserts in lieu thereof ``strategic planning.'' The bill under consideration creates the National Counterterrorism Center to develop and unify strategy, to develop interagency terrorism plans, not to conduct joint operations. I call attention to page 83, lines 3, 9, and 10, of the committee print. In support of the bill under consideration, this amendment clarifies the role of the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center to support planning and not conduct operations. It is the intent of this amendment to make it perfectly clear that the national counterterrorism director would have no control over the conduct of joint operations. Having the intelligence director to report directly to the President would be inappropriate. Furthermore, the Secretary of Defense is the principal adviser to the President on military operations. As currently drafted, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center shall serve as the principal adviser to the President on joint operations. This is very unclear.”