NSC Accountability

NSC Accountability

Since Dr. Kissinger streamlined the office and competed with the US Department of State, the Office of National Security Advisor to the President - appointed by the President without Senate Confirmation - has been an issue of Congressional oversight. In technical truth - the issue has been settled by the Iran-Contra affair and the US v. Nixon cases. All US employees are accountable in oversight to the appropriations process which funds and pays them. Ordinarily - the Senatorial consent of a Presidential appointee implicitly grants that review or performance in checking the executive. Past US Presidents for confidence and bi=partisanship have offered their NSC Advsisor choice for a Congressional approval -but the offer was never pursued. The important NSC Advisor position is not confimed by the Senate. They do testify before Congress and Congress and Executive Branch Commissions at their option and the President's option - out of respect for Congress and the American people. We will face this issue on the Iraqi Intelligence Commission. Congress cannot join the Executive Branch in co-governance without expertise and review of expertise offered to the President in and with his Cabinet. Compelled testimony shuld not be necessary - secure testimony may be and is provided - and Executive Privilege - that doctrine which conserves quiet corridors of candor and confidence - is served. Sustaining the latter- means that a classified matters executive expert - need only fear disclosure of his communications when they are perjurious; incompetent or malfeasant. As the constitutional cases and the instrument in implcit functioning common sense requires .. when the balance of an essential inquiry meets the executive privilege - the blanket is tailored - not thrown over everything.