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Senator MURKOWSKI. My last question is relative to the tendency 

 in Washington for the bureaucracies to kind of overwhelm each 

 other. And I'm curious to know if you feel in your area of respon- 

 sibility that we've got an adequate balance here, in the sense that 

 the National Science Foundation, the Interagency Arctic Research 

 Policy Committee in the Arctic Research Commission, the Environ- 

 mental Protection Agency, NOAA and others all have a role in the 

 Arctic. Somebody's got to orchestrate clearly the definitive prior- 

 ities for Arctic research and, of course, that's part of your respon- 

 sibility. And I wonder how those decisions are made. Is it the best 

 prevailing argument on the merits, or the seniority within the 

 structure, or the Agency that happens to have the funds? Often- 

 times we get a little frustrated because we think we see an unmet 

 priority but we can't seem to prevail in the structure that decides 

 where the priorities lie. 



Secretary Bohlen. Well, we do have an excellent interagency 

 committee that deals with Arctic issues. But that's only as effective 

 as the policy leadership above them. And that's what I view as my 

 task now is to make sure they get that inspirational direction to 

 focus on these issues. And of course, it's a factor, as you well know, 

 Mr. Chairman, of the budget. I would like to see NOAA take a 

 much more active role than they are now in the Arctic, but that's 

 a question of getting them the necessary funds. I think my visit to 

 Nome a few days ago that you mentioned was to attend a meeting 

 of the Arctic Research Commission. That was my first exposure to 

 this commission, which was created I think by an act that you were 

 involved in in 1984. I think that commission has a great potential 

 for achieving better coordination among the various agencies. But 

 my ofQiand observation is that they don't control the purse strings, 

 and unless you control the purse strings, it's very difficult to medce 

 agencies move in the direction you want. 



Senator Murkowski. Well, Mr. Secretary, as one who's in the 

 policy-making role in the State Department with regard to oceans 

 and environment, we look to your for leadership. And there's an old 

 saying in Alaska, when one sled dog said to the other, "the scenery 

 never changes unless you're leading the pack." It's nice to know 

 that you're leading the pack and that we can look to you as the in- 

 dividual to coordinate the priorities that come up through the proc- 

 ess. And we very much appreciate your traveling to Alaska and 

 spending so much time here and we look forward to the message 

 that you're going to take back to Washington. 



Secretary Bohlen. I don't consider a visit to Alaska a hardship. 

 A great pleasure indeed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Senator Murkowski. Thank you very much. I hope that you can 

 be with us for a portion of the day and invite you to stay with us 

 through this panel. 



We're going to call the Director of the Central Intelligence Agen- 

 cy, Mr. Gates, at this time. And as he comes up I will make a few 

 introductory remarks. Mr. Gates has been in his capacity as Direc- 

 tor of the CIA for almost a year now. And we very much appreciate 

 his being with us. We've got the seat warmed up for you and you 

 can begin. 



Speaking for the Chairman, Senator Boren and myself, and the 

 Members of our bipartisan Committee, probably the only one in the 



