President Elect Obama named nominees for key intelligence positions. Former Clinton Chief of Staff Leon Panetta was nominated as CIA director and Retired Admiral Dennis Blair was nominated as National Intelligence Director.
Additionally, Director John Michael McConnell will offer counsel through the President Elect's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, Michael Leiter will continue as the head of the National Counter-Terrorism Center, and CIA veteran John Brennan will serve as Homeland Security Advisor and Deputy National Security Advisor for Counterterrorism.
Brennan was an earlier contender for the CIA Director position, but pulled himself out of the running after facing criticism for perceived ties with the several of the Bush administration's controversial interrogation and detention policies.
Obama stated that Panetta would be a strong CIA Director and explained his managerial skills.
"He knows how to focus resources where they are needed, and he has a proven track record of building consensus and working on a bipartisan basis with Congress. I am confident that he will strengthen the CIA's capability to protect the American people as it continues to adapt to our reformed intelligence community," said Obama during a press conference in Washington D.C.
The President Elect also lauded Blair's past as a former National Security Council staffer and Associate Director of Central Intelligence for Military Support, explaining that the position qualified Blair to build bridges amongst different security institutions.
Both Blair and Panetta made similar pledges to provide the President Elect with the accurate intelligence and analysis, promising that they would not just tell Obama what he wanted to hear.
Following a question regarding U.S. interrogation techniques, Obama pledged that under his administration there will be no torture.
The President Elect also touched upon the recent unemployment crisis,
"My staff and I have been engaged in a constructive dialogue with members of Congress over the last few days and weeks about my American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan which will save or create at least 3 million jobs, and make long-term investments in the critical areas of energy, health care and education."
Obama names key intelligence positions, comments on unemployment
Additionally, Director John Michael McConnell will offer counsel through the President Elect's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, Michael Leiter will continue as the head of the National Counter-Terrorism Center, and CIA veteran John Brennan will serve as Homeland Security Advisor and Deputy National Security Advisor for Counterterrorism.
Brennan was an earlier contender for the CIA Director position, but pulled himself out of the running after facing criticism for perceived ties with the several of the Bush administration's controversial interrogation and detention policies.
Obama stated that Panetta would be a strong CIA Director and explained his managerial skills.
"He knows how to focus resources where they are needed, and he has a proven track record of building consensus and working on a bipartisan basis with Congress. I am confident that he will strengthen the CIA's capability to protect the American people as it continues to adapt to our reformed intelligence community," said Obama during a press conference in Washington D.C.
The President Elect also lauded Blair's past as a former National Security Council staffer and Associate Director of Central Intelligence for Military Support, explaining that the position qualified Blair to build bridges amongst different security institutions.
Both Blair and Panetta made similar pledges to provide the President Elect with the accurate intelligence and analysis, promising that they would not just tell Obama what he wanted to hear.
Following a question regarding U.S. interrogation techniques, Obama pledged that under his administration there will be no torture.
The President Elect also touched upon the recent unemployment crisis,
"My staff and I have been engaged in a constructive dialogue with members of Congress over the last few days and weeks about my American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan which will save or create at least 3 million jobs, and make long-term investments in the critical areas of energy, health care and education."