But Bush was also putting a new emphasis on covert operations, which has raised fresh concerns about civil liberties.
The narrative jumps between the newsroom and remote regions where covert operations are playing out, including Afghanistan and Iran.
Defense Department officials told the Times that the new order would allow for more systematic and long-term covert operations than in previous administrations.
Mr Blair is said to have tried to curtail some of the CIA's covert operations, but discovered that the White House was enamoured of Predator strikes and other secret operations.
