Politicians skeptical about Bush?s CIA director choice
|
In a break with the White House, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., said he was surprised by the nomination and concerned about Hayden?s background.
?I don?t think a military guy should be head of CIA, frankly,? Hastert said. ?I don?t know anything about him.?
During the 36 hours since Hayden?s nomination was announced, the White House said the general had called more than 25 members of Congress and was meeting some.
Aside from Hastert, several Republicans and a number of Democrats have expressed discomfort with Bush?s decision to choose a military man to run the CIA, including House Intelligence Chairman Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., and Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., an Intelligence Committee member.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld rejected suggestions that the Defense Department was making a ?power play? to dominate the spy community, calling talk of bureaucratic turf fights between civilian intelligence agencies and military leaders ?theoretical conspiracies.?
?He?s an intelligence professional,? Rumsfeld said, expressing confidence in Hayden. ?He?s a person who has had assignment after assignment after assignment in the intelligence business. And, clearly, that is what his career has been. And he?s been very good at it.?
CIA Director Porter Goss announced his resignation Friday, offering little explanation. Officials have said he had conflicts with National Intelligence Director John Negroponte and Hayden.
Hastert said Negroponte came by his office last week and did not mention any problems with Goss, a former House member. ?It looks like a power grab by Mr. Negroponte,? Hastert said at an event in Aurora, Ill., in his home district Monday. Asked if that meant he opposes the nomination, the speaker said, ?I don?t oppose him, I don’t know anything about him.?
Attention now focuses on the Senate and particularly its Intelligence Committee, which will address the Senate confirmation first. Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., called him ?the ideal man for the job.?