Bob Graham - Senate should confirm Hayden

This is an op-ed that ran a couple of days ago. I was against Hayden but I do trust Bob Graham. Now I are confused...

Senate should confirm Hayden

By Bob Graham and Graham Allison
Published May 25, 2006

As a former Democratic senator who chaired the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and a former assistant secretary of defense in the Clinton administration, we strongly support the confirmation of Gen. Michael Hayden to be the director of the CIA. If confirmed, we believe he will be a great, potentially even legendary leader of an organization desperately in need of continuity of effective leadership.

Five considerations lead us to this judgment:

- First, Hayden is a world-class intelligence professional. Over three decades inside the community, he rose through the system from success to success. Colleagues respect him as a steady, top-flight performer in every job he has held. Internationally, intelligence professionals regard him as one of the best of the best.

On this dimension, Hayden's professionalism could not be more required, nor could it be more relevant for the construction of a new, coordinated multiagency national intelligence community, and for the restoration of American relationships with allied intelligence services.

more---> http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0605250024may25,1,6556868.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

I'm disappointed in Graham...

This guy, Heyden, doesn't even understand the fourth amendment for fuck's sake...

I will NOT drink the kool aide

To not do otherwise is bogus!

- Fourth, on the question of whether the NSA engaged in illegal domestic spying, because we do not have relevant classified facts, we are unable to offer a judgment. From what we do know, we question the legality and utility of the program. Our best understanding, however, is that whatever Hayden and the NSA did was undertaken at the direction of President Bush. It also appears that the program was briefed to the leadership of both houses of Congress and the intelligence committees consistent with procedures established by former President Jimmy Carter and followed by Democratic and Republican presidents thereafter. Unless Hayden or the NSA are charged with illegal actions beyond that presidential mandate, the person who should be held accountable is President Bush, not Gen. Hayden.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-06052500...

Unless, of course, they think it is meaningless.

That is wrong by itself. He should be forced to resign from the Army if he takes this position. I don't think we should have currently serving military people in charge of any civilian agency. It seems sort of like a South American junta to me.

But aside from all that, the illegal spying ought to have raised a major red flag?? Why is this not an issue in his confirmation? Why are the Democrats not SCREAMING about this? I know we at DU are screaming but what about our leaders? Where the hell are they on this? Are they okay with the spying? I have to think they are (or they are being blackmailed somehow).

His wife resigned from the Enron board to defect any charges. They were both involved in Texas banking scandal

http://www.democrats.com/node/6890

Jackass! :eyes: