US President George W Bush has nominated the US Ambassador to Iraq, John Negroponte, as his Director of National Intelligence.
Mr Negroponte will oversee the FBI and the CIA under legislation crafted in response to the 11 September terrorist strikes.
'Intelligence is our first line of defence. If we're going to stop the terrorists before they strike, we must ensure that our intelligence agencies work as a single, unified enterprise,' said Mr Bush.
The US President has also demanded that Syria recall all its troops from Lebanon.
He said Syria must adhere to a UN resolution demanding its troops leave Lebanon after former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri was killed in a car bombing in Beirut on Monday.
The US has said it has an increasing list of problems with Syria, which comes after Damascus formed a united front with Iran.
The American Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, said she had withdrawn the US Ambassador to Syria to send a strong signal of displeasure.
The diplomat Margaret Scobey was first pulled out of Damascus for talks, but there is now no date for her return.
Washington insists Syria's problems are not just with the US, but with the whole international community.
On the subject of Iran, President Bush has said he would use diplomacy to convince Tehran it would be unacceptable for it to develop nuclear weapons.
He said he would use his trip to Europe next week to discuss strategies with key allies who are negotiating with Iran.
