One of the most controversial options discussed at the hearings is the creation of a domestic intelligence service...

\"I think we have to consider establishing a domestic intelligence organization distinct from law enforcement and subject to appropriate control, regulation and oversight,\" [former CLINTON Defense Secretary William] Cohen said.

Clarke added that, \"in a perfect world,\" the new service would be separate from the FBI. Given current structures and constraints, he proposed the service start under the FBI and then become an autonomous agency as quickly as possible. He also noted concerns about creating the agency.

\"I am very fearful that such an agency would have potential to infringe on our civil liberties, and therefore I think we would have to take extraordinary steps to have active oversight of such an agency,\" he said. \"And we'd have to explain to the American people in a very compelling way why they needed a domestic intelligence service, because I think most Americans would be fearful of a secret police in the United States. But frankly, the FBI culture, the FBI organization, the FBI personnel are not the best we could do in this country for a domestic intelligence service.\"