House Intel Panel Chief Opposes Hayden

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060507/D8HF00R00.html ^ | May 7, 10:12 AM (ET) | By NEDRA PICKLER

[tomnbeverly]

WASHINGTON (AP) - A leading Republican came out against the front-runner for CIA director, Gen. Michael Hayden, saying Sunday the spy agency should not have military leadership during a turbulent time among intelligence agencies.

Members of the Senate committee that would consider President Bush's nominee also expressed reservations, saying the CIA is a civilian agency and putting Hayden atop it would concentrate too much power in the military for intelligence matters.

Bush was expected to nominate a new director as early as Monday to replace Porter Goss, who abruptly resigned on Friday.

But opposition to Hayden because of his military background is mounting on Capitol Hill, where he would face tough hearings in the Senate Intelligence Committee.

[tomnbeverly]

Peter Hoekstra is wrong... This is exactly what the Agency needs.... Strong Military leadership... There has been way too much nepotism going on over there with the civilian leadership this is the correct approach let them answer to the General.

[Brilliant]

Do you get the idea that the members of Congress from both parties are absolute idiots?

[bnelson44]

I was wondering about that as well. CIA is a civilian agency, not a military one.

[tomnbeverly]

Thats why you have the crap over there that Valerie Plame and now Mary McCarthy have started...

[ASA Vet]

The General will retire from the military in order to take on the DCIA position.

[6SJ7]

the CIA is a civilian agency and putting Hayden atop it would concentrate too much power in the military for intelligence matters.

'Civilians', such as Valerie Plame, Mary McCarthy, and Larry Johnson have been the problem.

[stevestras]

This is getting a lot of play on Fox this morning.

Makes you wonder how Bush gets anything done.

[Brilliant]

Bush should just take whoever the House recommends, and then blame them when it doesn't work.

[RobbyS]

Spector is still flapping his gums over the "wiretaps." That is, of course, to increase his currency among the DIMS. Did you hear Biden gushing over him?

[mrsmith]

I suspect a foolish budgetary turf battle.

Hayden may be considered too willing to move functions to the military: from Intelligence committee control to Defense committee control.

[dogbyte12]

Isn't there some law about switching from military to civilian executive position without a waiting period? I think it came up once before.

[G.Mason]

I can't think that the President (advisors) were not aware of this "problem" when they spoon fed Hayden's name to the MSM.

If that assumption is correct, the President will have (already has) someone in control who will be calling the shots, and for as long as it takes for Congress to deal with it.

In the end, I suspect either confirmation, or a John Bolton (UN) like appointment.

The bases are covered.

[upchuck]

The writing in this article sucks. "A leading Republican" are the first three words of the article. But the person isn't identified until the end of the fifth paragraph. Sucks.

BTY, tnb, no need to excerpt My Way News. Not on the list.

[Reily]

Larry Johnson is the modern equivalent of the 'embittered office seeker that shot James A. Garfield'. Prior to the 2000 election he was anti-Clinton, made fun of the Clinton administration, campaigned for G W Bush and I was told he worked on one of the transition teams. He was convinced he was going to get some sort of undersecretary ship or deputy directorship. It didn't happen so he switched sides.
He is foolish enough to think that a Hillary administration will reward him

[LibLieSlayer]

With both parties hovering at 18% approval, I think polls back up your assertion nicely!

LLS

[MizSterious]

"Do you get the idea that the members of Congress from both parties are absolute idiots?"

Oh yeah. Often.

[ardara]

Would it be possible this year to vote for none of the candidates for congress and have a new election minus the original candidates?

[tomnbeverly]

thats just what the liberals hope you do..... they see any inroad as significant.... schemes to drive wedge issues into the GOP base are coming to fruition..

[Moose Dung]

Hopefully we'll see Hayden deliver that leadership. As I've pointed out before the CIA is broken beyond repair and needs a complete tear-down and overhaul.

It may be that Goss was dumped because he couldn't make the changes that needed making. Yes, Goss did some good, but he got caught up in the political in-fighting and lost his credibility.

I don't know much about General Hayden we'll have to wait to see if he can be the John Roberts of the CIA.

dung.

[sgtyork]

Previous director, Stansfield Turner, was an admiral.