WASHINGTON, June 10 (Xinhuanet) -- US President George W. Bush on Friday selected retired Vice Adm. John Redd as director of the National Counterterrorism Center established last year.

    "He's a man of enormous experience. He has served our country with distinction," Bush said during a tour of the center outside Washington.

    If confirmed by the Senate, Redd, 60, who had helped manage the US occupation of Iraq, would replace John O. Brennan, the center's interim chief.

    Congress passed a law establishing the counterterrorism center after numerous investigations had concluded that the lack of coordination in intelligence analysis was to blame for the Bush administration's failure to detect the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

    The center was set up as the primary agency analyzing all intelligence related to terrorism. During his visit, Bush stressed the importance of sharing intelligence and information across jurisdictional lines in the war.

    Redd, serving 36 years in the US Navy, was previously chief operating officer of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad. Enditem