It’s official: General Mike Hayden has been nominated to head the CIA. Republican lawmakers are already spooked by the choice — and not just because of his domestic wiretap project, or his shaky grip on the 4th amendment says. But one military intelligence specialist tells Defense Tech that he likes Mike:
If we leave aside the obvious political arguments over the NSA program which are sure to come up at any confirmation hearings, Hayden is a great pick. One of the big talking points on both sides of the aisle is how CIA needs to be fixed… Hayden did the same thing at NSA, dragging it kicking and screaming into the 21st century. He overcame a lot of bureaucratic inertia to accomplish that. I would say he is the best candidate to do just the same at CIA. Additionally, being a in the military might afford him a little extra protection from some of the political sniping that comes with a regular political appointee. Time will tell, but if we are serious as a nation about our security and having competent intelligence services to help provide that security, I don’t think we could fins anyone better for this job at this time. If certain Senators want to play politics and kill this nomination (if it comes) to make some partisan points, what we will inevitably end up with running the CIA is a milquetoast, non-threatening figurehead who is acceptable to everyone, and such a person will have no leverage to produce any reforms in the Agency. That result would be the intelligence equivalent of FEMA/Michael Brown. That should be unacceptable to us all.
I’ll be curious to hear what guys like Bobby Ray Inman, Patrick Keefe, and James Risen say tonight during their New York Public Library talk. If there are any truly juicy tidbits, I’ll let you know.
Meanwhile, check it constantly with Laura Rozen and TPM Muckraker, who are all over the CIA transition story.
UPDATE 12:14 PM: I’ve been away for a few days (more on that in a bit), so I didn’t get a chance to comment on the downright hilarious spin whizzing around Porter Goss’ departure from the CIA. I didn’t work in Washington all that long. But I was there long enough to know that top-level guys like him do not get fired suddenly over long-standing turf battles or routine staff shake-ups. Frankly, the poker-and-hooker theory makes a whole lot more sense.
It’s amazing how many figureheads assume their positions as a result of shady connections to other, already ‘in-office’ figureheads. Sometimes I think there should be oversight committees for the oversight committees. Hopefully this guy is a straight shooter.
Of the four talking at the NY Public Library, the only one I’d care to hear discuss Hayden’s suitability to the job is Inman. The other three haven’t done anything except teach or write. They may be great on theory but they’ve never had any managerial expertise.
Maybe he’s not the best nomination:
“While director of the National Security Agency, Gen. Michael V. Hayden contracted the services of a top executive at the company at the center of the Cunningham bribery scandal, according to two former employees of the company.
Hayden, President Bush’s pick to replace Porter Goss as head of the CIA, contracted with MZM Inc. for the services of Lt. Gen. James C. King, then a senior vice president of the company, the sources say. MZM was owned and operated by Mitchell Wade, who has admitted to bribing former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham with $1.4 million in money and gifts. Wade has also reportedly told investigators he helped arrange for prostitutes to entertain the disgraced lawmaker, and he continues to cooperate with a federal inquiry into the matter.“
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/008393.php
Besides, anyone who doesn’t understand the 4th amendment shouldn’t be in government at any level, let alone director of the CIA.
No, what’s amazing is how few news channels are carrying this story, and therefore how few Americans care.
Some members of congress are being implicated in this, and there is no reporters asking the hard hitting questions, you know since we will probably re-elect these bastards.
Aside from Hayden being the right man for the job (I’ve met him and he’s a genuine nice fellow.. so, I can understand how he’s able to get things done) he’s a shoe-in due to his uncanny likeness to “That 70’s Show“s Red Foreman.. also known as Eric’s Dad.
Agent: Things are all quiet in Tajikistan today.
Director Red: Shut up.
Agent: What’d I say?
Director Red: Nothing. I’m pre-emptively shutting you up, because you’re a screw up. Now, go get me some coffee.
Well, maybe not quite like that… but point made.
V
lol vincente
From an european point of view, it a not a good nomination.