The prospect that Al Qaeda or some other terrorist group might get its hand on a nuclear bomb is widely viewed as the scariest national security threat facing the country. But more than a year after Congress passed a law creating a White House "czar" to focus on the issue, the post has yet to be filled-the apparent victim of yet another clash over presidential powers.
The provision creating a new special White House office to coordinate nuclear proliferation and counter-terrorism efforts was tucked away in a landmark bill passed by Congress last year implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 commission. (At the same time, Congress created a commission to study the problem.)
"With this bill, we'll be keeping our promises to the families of 9/11...and we'll be making the American people safer," proclaimed Speaker Nancy Pelosi on July 27, 2007 as the massive bill was passed. President Bush signed the measure into law a few days later, hailing the act as another example of his administration's commitment to fighting terrorism.