Should Americans Worry About CIA Leadership Changes in a Turbulent Time?

[cal04]

As the United States braces for a threatened terrorist attack this summer, top intelligence officials will be shuffling jobs. The question is whether Americans should worry. "I really regret it," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. "I think it's the wrong thing at the wrong time."

CIA Director George J. Tenet said last week he was resigning. It became known soon thereafter that James Pavitt, head of the agency's clandestine service, also was leaving in midsummer. Feinstein, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said after learning of Tenet's announcement that it was "startling ... because of the time we're in and the situation."

President Bush said Saturday that Tenet's departure should not hurt morale at the CIA. Others, however, are less certain about how assured the public will feel. "To the average American, it definitely doesn't look good," said Thomas M. Sanderson, an analyst who has studied terrorists and terrorism policy for the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency.

On Capitol Hill, there were questions about how much credibility McLaughlin will have, given that he played a significant role in intelligence analysis during the Iraq weapons miscalculations.
There also was the question of how McLaughin's relationship with Bush would play out. Would he continue the somewhat unusual trend established in the Bush administration of having the CIA director attend the president's regular morning briefings on intelligence?
McLaughlin in the past filled in for Tenet when Tenet was unavailable.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB5GEX04VD.html

[MercutioATC]

1. Yes! Let's KEEP the ones who made grave mistakes!

Seriously, absolutely not, unless they're replaced by complete morons. Obviously, their judgement was off in a pretty major way. I'd like to think there are other candidates who will have a more effective approach to the issues.

[Kurt Remarque]

2. any new appointments of this

administration deserve concern