Via Reuters: Bush Names Negroponte as New Intelligence Chief
President Bush on Thursday nominated John Negroponte, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, to fill the new position of director of national intelligence.
I am mildly surprised by the pick, as he is hardly a popular fellow on the left side of the aisle. Further, he is hardly the most charismatic of individuals.
Given his connection to the Latin American death squad issue during the Reagan administration, and the current, understandable, interest in the torture/interrogation issue, I would expect a confrontational confirmation process.
The funny thing is I had no idea an announcement was coming until I heard about it on NPR as I was driving in this morning, and while Negroponte’s name was in the list they had, they did not know for sure who the nominee would be.
Now we have to see who the new ambassador to Iraq will be.
Update: James Joyner considers Negroponte “as a very odd choice”–at least at first glance. I cannot disagree.
Michelle Malkin also notes some early reactions.
Are trackbacks turned off? Mine don’t seem to be taking, so ping!
Comment by Dave Schuler — Thursday, February 17, 2024 @ 11:09 am
Oops. I had disabled them yesterday afternoon as the result of a spam attack and forgot to turn them back on.
Comment by Steven Taylor — Thursday, February 17, 2024 @ 11:59 am
Negroponte nominated for intelligence chief (UPDATED)
President Bush has nominated John Negroponte as the first Director of National Intelligence: WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush on Thursday named John Negroponte as America’s first national intelligence director, congressional sources said Thursday. It…
Trackback by The Glittering Eye — Thursday, February 17, 2024 @ 12:01 pm