Pres. Obama Picks James Clapper to oversee the U.S.’ 16 spy agencies.

June 5, 2010 at 7:12 am | Posted in Remote Sensing Law Current Events | Leave a comment

by Joanne Irene Gabrynowicz and the blog faculty

Source: Associated Press

Promotion for Pentagon’s top intelligence official

By KIMBERLY DOZIER (AP)

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has settled on James Clapper, the Pentagon’s top intelligence official, as his pick to oversee the nation’s 16 spy agencies.

Obama planned to announce the nomination of Clapper, a retired Air Force three-star general, as national intelligence director in a Rose Garden ceremony Saturday.

Two senior administration officials, who spoke only on condition of anonymity ahead of the announcement, confirmed that Clapper was Obama’s choice to replace retired Adm. Dennis Blair. He resigned last month after frequent clashes with the White House.

The move comes despite objections by some lawmakers in both parties, who complain Clapper had been combative and sometimes obstructive under questioning on Capitol Hill in his previous intelligence roles.

His critics also question whether the former general will have any sway in Obama’s influential intelligence inner circle, which includes senior counterterrorism adviser John Brennan and CIA Director Leon Panetta.

The position of national intelligence director was created in 2004 to coordinate the 16 intelligence agencies in an effort to address the intelligence failures that led to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. More…