"I'm conflicted about the idea of operating without congressional oversight," the Pentagon adviser said.

"It's a finesse to give power to Rumsfeld-giving him the right to act swiftly, decisively, and lethally," the first Pentagon adviser told me.

"Look, I think they tried to kill him," Richard Perle, the former Pentagon adviser and longtime Chalabi friend, said of the American and Iraqi agents.

With more Iraqis being trained, some military officers and Pentagon advisers say that solving the equipment shortages is all the more critical.

A second Pentagon adviser agreed, with a significant caveat.

Among those who promoted the tanker deal were Richard N. Perle, a top Pentagon adviser who is a member of the Defense Policy Board.

The secretary of defense and his Pentagon advisers are now riding high, poised to influence policy in the war on terrorism.

After all, he and his close Pentagon advisers had warned about asymmetrical threats, and this one was really asymmetrical.

A senior Pentagon adviser accused the Clinton Administration today of diminishing the Pentagon's role in safeguarding sensitive American technology exports, in favor of commercial interests.

The Americans said they detained at least 25 suspects, and a senior Pentagon adviser said documents, cellphones, passports and computers were also seized.

"I'm conflicted about the idea of operating without congressional oversight," the Pentagon adviser said.

"It's a finesse to give power to Rumsfeld-giving him the right to act swiftly, decisively, and lethally," the first Pentagon adviser told me.

"Look, I think they tried to kill him," Richard Perle, the former Pentagon adviser and longtime Chalabi friend, said of the American and Iraqi agents.

With more Iraqis being trained, some military officers and Pentagon advisers say that solving the equipment shortages is all the more critical.

A second Pentagon adviser agreed, with a significant caveat.

Among those who promoted the tanker deal were Richard N. Perle, a top Pentagon adviser who is a member of the Defense Policy Board.

The secretary of defense and his Pentagon advisers are now riding high, poised to influence policy in the war on terrorism.

After all, he and his close Pentagon advisers had warned about asymmetrical threats, and this one was really asymmetrical.

A senior Pentagon adviser accused the Clinton Administration today of diminishing the Pentagon's role in safeguarding sensitive American technology exports, in favor of commercial interests.

The Americans said they detained at least 25 suspects, and a senior Pentagon adviser said documents, cellphones, passports and computers were also seized.