Mail an article...

Senators Push for Quick CIA Nomination

A Senate report detailing serious flaws in U.S. intelligence-gathering highlights the urgent need for a permanent CIA director given the current terrorist threat, leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee said Sunday. "An acting director for the next six or seven months, during such a dangerous period for the United States, with all of these talks about attacks on the United States, is not acceptable," said West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller, the committee's top Democrat. The chairman, Sen. Pat Roberts, said McLaughlin's ability to lead is limited as acting director even though he is "very skilled" and brings a lot of experience to the job. "I hope the administration will send somebody up," said Roberts, R-Kan. "It will have to be an extraordinary nominee. If that's the case, we will go full time into the hearings to get him or her confirmed." Committee members discussed several possible nominees: Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage; former Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga.; House Intelligence Committee Chairman Porter Goss, R-Fla.; and former Navy Secretary John Lehman, a member of the commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks. The White House gave no indication Sunday about when Bush would name a permanent director. "Acting director McLaughlin is a strong and capable leader," said Erin Healy, a White House spokeswoman. "The president will make a decision on a new CIA director in due course."