Republican candidate Rubio says U.S. intelligence capability weakened

Reuters
U.S. Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio discusses "The Next Agenda for the American Presidency" at the Wall Street Journal CEO Council 2015 annual meeting in Washington November 16, 2015. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas - RTS7GH5

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio said on Monday the United States' intelligence capabilities had been weakened, and he said some of his rivals seeking the White House in 2016 had helped that effort. "The weakening of our intelligence gathering capabilities leaves America vulnerable, and that is exactly what's happened," said Rubio, a U.S. senator from Florida. He said his Senate colleague Ted Cruz of Texas had voted to hamper intelligence gathering. (Reporting by Erin McPike and Emily Stephenson; Editing by Eric Walsh)