Bush Names Iraq Envoy as Nation's 1st Intelligence Chief
By DAVID STOUT
and MARK GLASSMAN
Published: February 17, 2005
ASHINGTON, Feb. 17 - President Bush today nominated John D. Negroponte, the ambassador to Iraq and a diplomat with worldwide experience, to be the director of national intelligence, a new post intended to protect the United States from 21st century terrorist threats.
"Intelligence is our front line of defense," Mr. Bush said in announcing the selection of Mr. Negroponte, who previously served as Ambassador to the United Nations and at eight diplomatic posts in Asia, Latin America and Europe. From 1987 to 1989, he was deputy assistant to the president for national security affairs.
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Mr. Negroponte, 65, said he was honored to be picked for the job, which he called "no doubt the most challenging assignment" he has had in more than 40 years of government service.
The president also nominated Lieut. Gen. Michael Hayden to be Mr. Negroponte's deputy. The Air Force general is currently head of the National Security Agency, a huge intelligence-analyzing unit based at Fort Meade, Md.
If confirmed by the Senate, Mr. Negroponte will oversee the country's 15 intelligence agencies and exercise broad control over a multi-billion dollar intelligence budget. Confirmation would appear likely, since he has been confirmed previously as United Nations envoy and Iraq ambassador with little opposition.
"John's nomination comes in an historic moment for our intelligence services," Mr. Bush said in a ceremony at the White House. "John brings a unique set of skills to these challenges."
Mr. Negroponte has been serving as the United States ambassador to Iraq since last summer, a tenure Mr. Bush called an "incalculable advantage for an intelligence chief." Mr. Negroponte had re-established that position shortly before the transfer of sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government in late June.
Creating the new position was one of the central recommendations of the 9/11 Commission that finished its work last summer. The intelligence community had been under fire since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks for poor communication and organization, and the commission said it believed that centralizing control of the myriad intelligence agencies would create a more effective system.
In particular, the commission criticized the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency for failing to share information and being unable to "connect the dots," or piece together what in retrospect seemed to be a cornucopia of clues of the impending attacks.
The proposed position became politically charged last fall amid reports that the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld opposed placing too much control over Pentagon intelligence and budgetary matters in the hands of the new director.
Mr. Bush implicitly addressed those concerns today, saying that Mr. Negroponte would make sure that "our military commanders continue to have quick access" to battlefield intelligence.
The president also said pointedly that "the director of the C.I.A. will report to John." Thus, the head of the C.I.A. , now Porter J. Goss, will no longer be considered America's top intelligence official.
Mr. Bush's decision comes amid some criticism of a two-month delay since the position was created when he signed a bill revamping national intelligence on Dec. 17. Senator John D. Rockefeller IV of West Virginia, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, called the wait "unacceptable," at a hearing on Wednesday, accusing the White House of "foot-dragging."
At least three potential nominees approached by the White House have turned the job down, officials have said. Mr. Negroponte had not been mentioned in Washington's ever-churning mill as being a candidate for the post.
But Mr. Bush said his choice deep knowledge of America's "global intelligence needs" from his wide experience in the foreign service. And having served in Iraq and seen the turbulence of that emerging country gives him "an incalculable advantage," Mr. Bush said.
Moreover, in heading the new American mission in Iraq Mr. Negroponte has been in charge of one of the largest diplomatic outposts ever assembled. That management experience might have made him an attractive candidate.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/17/p...&en=22d49d39c86fff47&ei=5094&partner=homepage
By DAVID STOUT
and MARK GLASSMAN
Published: February 17, 2005
ASHINGTON, Feb. 17 - President Bush today nominated John D. Negroponte, the ambassador to Iraq and a diplomat with worldwide experience, to be the director of national intelligence, a new post intended to protect the United States from 21st century terrorist threats.
"Intelligence is our front line of defense," Mr. Bush said in announcing the selection of Mr. Negroponte, who previously served as Ambassador to the United Nations and at eight diplomatic posts in Asia, Latin America and Europe. From 1987 to 1989, he was deputy assistant to the president for national security affairs.
Advertisement
Mr. Negroponte, 65, said he was honored to be picked for the job, which he called "no doubt the most challenging assignment" he has had in more than 40 years of government service.
The president also nominated Lieut. Gen. Michael Hayden to be Mr. Negroponte's deputy. The Air Force general is currently head of the National Security Agency, a huge intelligence-analyzing unit based at Fort Meade, Md.
If confirmed by the Senate, Mr. Negroponte will oversee the country's 15 intelligence agencies and exercise broad control over a multi-billion dollar intelligence budget. Confirmation would appear likely, since he has been confirmed previously as United Nations envoy and Iraq ambassador with little opposition.
"John's nomination comes in an historic moment for our intelligence services," Mr. Bush said in a ceremony at the White House. "John brings a unique set of skills to these challenges."
Mr. Negroponte has been serving as the United States ambassador to Iraq since last summer, a tenure Mr. Bush called an "incalculable advantage for an intelligence chief." Mr. Negroponte had re-established that position shortly before the transfer of sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government in late June.
Creating the new position was one of the central recommendations of the 9/11 Commission that finished its work last summer. The intelligence community had been under fire since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks for poor communication and organization, and the commission said it believed that centralizing control of the myriad intelligence agencies would create a more effective system.
In particular, the commission criticized the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency for failing to share information and being unable to "connect the dots," or piece together what in retrospect seemed to be a cornucopia of clues of the impending attacks.
The proposed position became politically charged last fall amid reports that the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld opposed placing too much control over Pentagon intelligence and budgetary matters in the hands of the new director.
Mr. Bush implicitly addressed those concerns today, saying that Mr. Negroponte would make sure that "our military commanders continue to have quick access" to battlefield intelligence.
The president also said pointedly that "the director of the C.I.A. will report to John." Thus, the head of the C.I.A. , now Porter J. Goss, will no longer be considered America's top intelligence official.
Mr. Bush's decision comes amid some criticism of a two-month delay since the position was created when he signed a bill revamping national intelligence on Dec. 17. Senator John D. Rockefeller IV of West Virginia, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, called the wait "unacceptable," at a hearing on Wednesday, accusing the White House of "foot-dragging."
At least three potential nominees approached by the White House have turned the job down, officials have said. Mr. Negroponte had not been mentioned in Washington's ever-churning mill as being a candidate for the post.
But Mr. Bush said his choice deep knowledge of America's "global intelligence needs" from his wide experience in the foreign service. And having served in Iraq and seen the turbulence of that emerging country gives him "an incalculable advantage," Mr. Bush said.
Moreover, in heading the new American mission in Iraq Mr. Negroponte has been in charge of one of the largest diplomatic outposts ever assembled. That management experience might have made him an attractive candidate.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/17/p...&en=22d49d39c86fff47&ei=5094&partner=homepage
