WASHINGTON – The Republican chairmen of the House and Senate intelligence panels raised serious concerns about Gen. Michael Hayden on the eve of his expected nomination today as CIA director, with Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., calling him “the wrong man at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Other Republicans and Democrats praised Hayden’s credentials but said they too were troubled by President Bush’s decision to place a military officer at the helm of a civilian intelligence agency.
Aides expect Bush to formally name Hayden today as his choice to succeed Porter Goss, who stepped down Friday. Hayden, a former director of the National Security Agency, is now deputy director of national intelligence.
White House officials did not respond to the criticisms Sunday, but strategists said privately they were confident they could address Republican concerns and have Hayden confirmed.
They also said they would not shy away from a fight with Democrats over what Bush has termed a “terrorist” surveillance program, if that becomes the focus of hearings about Hayden, who used to oversee the program as head of the NSA.
Hayden is widely respected in both parties for his long experience with intelligence, and many lawmakers said he could be a good candidate for some other job. Some, like Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, suggested that he might think about resigning his military post if he were going to head the CIA.
But Hoekstra and Rep. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., were among those who said that wouldn’t solve the problem.
“Just resigning commission and moving on, putting on a striped suit, a pinstriped suit versus an Air Force uniform, I don’t think makes much difference,” Chambliss said on ABC’s “This Week.”
Thirteen of the 19 directors that have led the CIA had military service before their appointment.
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., who leads the Senate Judiciary Committee, has said he has been frustrated by the amount of information Hayden has been willing to share with the committee about the surveillance program. As a result, Specter said confirmation hearings should center on the legality of the program Hayden designed and ran in secret in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
“There is no doubt there’s an enormous threat from terrorism, but the president does not have a blank check,” Specter said on “Fox News Sunday.” “Now, with Gen. Hayden up for confirmation, this will give us an opportunity to try to find out,” he said.
Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., who heads the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that will conduct Hayden’s confirmation hearings, said he supports the NSA program and likes Hayden personally, but he did not embrace the nomination. “I’m not in a position to say that I am for Gen. Hayden and will vote for him.”
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said she is concerned about Hayden’s role in the domestic spying program, but that should not be the issue in Senate confirmation hearings for the CIA. But having a four-star general leading the spy agency should be, she said.
“There have to be more people that can be drawn upon” in the administration, she said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “These people are all just this little clique, they play musical chairs, they’re all far too close to the president politically, and I think that the confidence that everyone needs in the CIA would be better instilled if we had someone else.”
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