Barack Obama Looks Both Ways On Intelligence Policy -- Times OnlineBarack Obama sent out conflicting signals about how far he will break with President Bush’s counter-terrorism policies yesterday as he unveiled his intelligence team in Washington.
He praised Leon Panetta and Admiral Dennis Blair, picked to be directors of the CIA and national intelligence respectively, for having “core pragmatism” as well as “unquestioned integrity”.
He also confirmed, however, that John Brennan, who was forced to withdraw from contention as CIA chief because of his past support for harsh interrogation and detention techniques, will work with him in the White House as his counter-terrorism adviser. The current head of national intelligence Michael McConnell will continue serving in an advisory role and Mr Obama has also asked that the CIA’s current deputy, Steve Kappes, to remain at the agency.
In his press conference yesterday the President-elect suggested that the intelligence community had learned some “tough lessons” from the debacle of preinvasion claims about Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction and bitter controversies since then.
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Obama Under Pressure On Interrogation Policy -- Washington Post
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Obama officially names intelligence team -- San Francisco Chronicle/AP
Senators say no witch hunt aimed at spy agencies -- AP
Feinstein grabs spotlight, committee reins -- AP
With Top Spies in Place, Panetta Has More Options Than It Might Appear -- CQ Politics
Hayden: Panetta Can Learn From CIA -- Washington Times
Panetta: Not a Company Man -- New York Times editorial
Limited Intelligence? -- Washington Times opinion
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