You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Home Front: Politix
Senate confirms Hayden as CIA director
2006-05-26
WASHINGTON - After hearing assurances he will be independent of the Pentagon, the Senate on Friday easily confirmed Gen. Michael Hayden, a career Air Force man, to head the CIA. Hayden, a four-star general, currently is the top deputy to National Intelligence Director John Negroponte.

Hayden, 61, would be the first active-duty or retired military officer to run the spy agency in 25 years. He was approved by a vote of 78-15.

President Bush, in a written statement, applauded Hayden's confirmation. "Winning the war on terror requires that America have the best intelligence possible, and his strong leadership will ensure that we do," he said. "Gen. Hayden is a patriot and a dedicated public servant whose broad experience, dedication and expertise make him the right person to lead the CIA at this critical time."

At his confirmation hearing, Hayden sought to assure lawmakers he would be independent from his military superiors but said he would consider how his uniform affects his relationship with CIA personnel. If it were to get in the way, he said, "I'll make the right decision."

Hayden, who headed the National Security Agency for several years, became a lightning rod for the debate about the Bush administration's domestic eavesdropping program. Some Democrats and civil-liberties advocates argue the monitoring was illegal. As head of the NSA from 1999 to 2005, Hayden oversaw the program. His defenders say he was relying on the advice of top government lawyers.

The White House hurried Hayden's nomination through in only 17 days, in part by heeding Congress' 5-month-old requests for more information on the classified operations.

During Thursday night's debate, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said the warrentless wiretapping program raised "serious questions about whether the general is the right person to lead the CIA, serious questions about whether the general will continue to be an administration cheerleader, serious questions about his credibility." Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., countered that Hayden "is eminently qualified" to lead the agency and that "he is the right choice to lead the CIA."
Posted by:tu3031

#11  If nothing else does it, this should wake up and convince Bush and the entire administration that they have been boxing with shadows. A big fight? Bush a lame duck? BULLSHIT. The paper tigers of the Left are not willing to actually fight good appointments or good policy.

Bush should take off the gloves and start publicly bashing the living dogshit out of them - on every front, every issue, every needed action that sits languishing in a political morass no more substantial than the smoke and mirrors of an MSM meme.

And, regards the MSM, he should follow Harper's example and cut the obvious partisans off at the ankles. Withdrawing press credentials for such behavior is long overdue. Take back the public forum and get shit done. Stop being nice to our enemies - that wasn't why you were elected - twice.
Posted by: Cromolet Phavish7868   2006-05-26 18:59  

#10  OP I am with you! I am only six years out and have my last 398 paperwork in my discharge briefcase. Can't take more than a minute to update that.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2006-05-26 17:59  

#9  Great news! Now we have to wait a few months and see if there is any bloodletting in the CIA. I pray that the good general has the guts to come down hard on leakers, islam-appologists, and people who put their own agenda ahead of the security of the United States. If the good general needs a battered old NCO to help out, I'm sure it wouldn't take too long to get my clearances reinstated, and I have my own axehandle.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2006-05-26 17:49  

#8  Think about it - a month or so ago Bush took heat over the "Illegal wiretaps by NSA", then he pushes it back in the Donks'/MSM's faces by nominating the same dude running NSA intercept program TO HEAD THE CIA. AND...HE WINS... LOL!
Posted by: Frank G   2006-05-26 17:01  

#7  49Pan - yup!

FBI should be next. Need to chisel the CT and intel away from the Criminal and let it operate on its own. Take an axe, just like Analysis and Ops at CIA, and give a big fat divorce to them. Steer the CT functions to DHS. Hell, the FBI doenst really want to do that stuff anyway. Politically speaking though, chunking up the FBI will be a LOT harder since its under Justice, not Defense, NID or DHS even.

Ther FBI seems to have not realized that there is a competely different mindset required, and they STILL haven't "gotten it" at the Hoover building.

They have the old mindset that has them chasing the wrong kind of "Al": Al Capone instead of Al Qaeda.
Posted by: Oldspook   2006-05-26 14:36  

#6  This is great news! OS thanks for the comments yesterday, points taken. Now we have to get a Bolten/Hayden type in the FBI and make this team work!
Posted by: 49 Pan   2006-05-26 13:39  

#5  My post at think progess:
Hey guys, Hayden got confirmed this morning, how come this site hasn't been shut down and most of you are not in Gitmo? Maybe he is going to wait until Tuesday? Oh well you all have a nice Memorial Day weekend and think of all those fascists that served so you can bitch and whine WITHOUT getting killed, maimed, or imprisoned. Quick quiz:
Who has more Courage?
A) Jean Rohe
B) John Murtha
C) ANY Police Officer in Iraq
D) Ward Churchill AKA “Walking Eagle”
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2006-05-26 12:09  

#4  Before his election to the Senate in 1996, he served 15 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senator attended the University of California at Santa Barbara on a basketball scholarship before receiving his B.A. with distinction from Stanford University. He received a J.D. degree from the University of Oregon School of Law and taught gerontology at several Oregon universities.

Any questions?
Posted by: Besoeker   2006-05-26 11:24  

#3  I watched some of the hearings and wanted to slap Wyden everytime he opened his mouth n'tell him that Senators should at least make an attempt to not act like a child.
Posted by: Mike N.   2006-05-26 11:18  

#2  During Thursday night's debate, Sen. Ron Wyden (news, bio, voting record), D-Ore., said the warrentless wiretapping program raised "serious questions about whether the general is the right person to lead the CIA,

Yes, I agree.... maybe he should BE PRESIDENT !
Posted by: Besoeker   2006-05-26 11:06  

#1  If a certain General/Director needs an axe, I could help that someone out.
Posted by: Mike N.   2006-05-26 10:54  

00:00