Brennan Withdraws From Consideration for Administration Post-Former CIA Official Had Come Under Fire

[kpete]

Source: Washington Post

Brennan Withdraws From Consideration for Administration Post
Former CIA Official Had Come Under Fire for Agency's Interrogation Policies

Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 25, 2008; 4:47 PM

A former CIA official who was in the running for a top intelligence post in the Obama administration withdrew his candidacy today after coming under criticism from several groups who accused him of being closely tied to the agency's interrogation policies.

John Brennan, who held several senior positions during a nearly 25-year stint at the spy agency, notified Barack Obama of his decision in a brief note, saying he no longer wished to be considered for any job in the intelligence agencies. Brennan was widely reported to be a contender for either CIA director or director of national intelligence.

"The challenges ahead of our nation are too daunting, and the role of the CIA too critical, for there to be any distraction from the vital work that lies ahead," Brennan wrote.

Brennan's withdrawal came three days after a group of about 200 psychiatrists and academics wrote to Obama opposing his appointment, saying Brennan was tainted by his association with some of the CIA's most controversial policies of the Bush era. They include the use of waterboarding and other harsh interrogation methods against captured al-Qaeda leaders in secret CIA prisons.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/25/AR2008112501028.html?hpid=topnews

[theboss]

1. Phew. Thank God.

This was one mistake that Obama did not need to make.

[BootinUp]

2. If he was the evil scum folks are indicating, I highly doubt

he would have given up the chance that easily. Plus the little I have read of his public statements doesn't in any way indicate he favored the Cheney/Rumsfeld interegation policies.