DNI pick draws early criticism
Washington (CNN) - President Obama plans to nominate retired Air Force Lt. Gen. James Clapper to be the new director of national intelligence, a senior U.S. defense official confirmed to CNN Friday.
Clapper, now a top Pentagon intelligence official, would replace Dennis Blair, who resigned at the end of last month.
The announcement will be made Saturday at the White House, the official said.
If confirmed, Clapper will become the nation's fourth DNI in the last five years. The position was created after the September 2001 terrorist attacks to oversee the 16 agencies of the U.S. intelligence community.
Clapper, who retired from the Air Force in 1995 after a 32-year career, served as head of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency from September 2001 to June 2006. He has served as the under secretary of defense for intelligence since April 2007.
Some political observers have indicated that Clapper's prospects for confirmation on Capitol Hill, however, are questionable.
From CNN Politics
- Warnock's seat comes into focus amid battle over voting laws and filibuster rules March 23, 2021 03:06 am
- White House aides prep $3 trillion jobs package for Biden March 23, 2021 02:30 am
- Biden administration continues to deny journalists access to border facilities March 23, 2021 02:28 am
- Arguing against statehood for DC, congressman says it has no car dealerships (it does) March 23, 2021 02:23 am
- Former Capitol riot prosecutor's comments on Trump alarm new no-drama Justice Department March 23, 2021 02:16 am
- Biden administration not confident Johnson & Johnson will meet 20 million goal by end of month March 23, 2021 01:52 am
Is this a surprise? He has a thirty two year military career where most of Congress doesn't know what a gun looks like much less having served in the military. mcnasty doesn't count. He crashed five planes and spent the Vietnam War not fighting it.
Would it make any difference? ANY pick by Obama for any position will be criticized by Republicans. It has become a joke. Republicans do not have any credibility.
When will CNN do in-depth and detailed reporting on W's confession to war crimes [dressed in his wealthy oil-man's tuxedo] in front of witnesses? Bragging about how he would do it again.
I'm sure our AG and DoD have now acquired names of attendees to that wealthy man's partying and copies of the taped message.
WAR CRIMES – people. How loud would you yell if it had been Clinton, Carter, or Obama? Our enemies have the same, I'm sure, since CNN played it over and over to get their ratings up. (FOX seems to have "missed" it).