Negroponte resigns as National Intelligence Director

Great Debates
1

. . . and takes the #2 spot in the State Department.

  1. Why is he resigning?*

  2. Why is he getting a job at State?

  3. Who is, or should be, our new spymaster-in-chief? (Linked article notes the frontrunner is retired Amiral Mike McConnell, NSA director 1992-96.)

  4. What will this change mean for the effectiveness of American intelligence-gathering capability?

*And should he be held in genteel captivity on a mysterious island until he explains?

2

Meanwhile, some members of Congress are none too pleased.

3

Ever since the Iran-Contra scandal in the Reagan era, we’ve known that John Negroponte has no qualms about breaking the law to do what the president wants. Maybe Condi Rice needs a guy like that at State. Giving Intel to McConnell fits nicely with Cheney’s plan to give control of Intel to the military.

4

I would say, rather, to give control of Intel to officers the Bush Admin is sure it can control. McConnell was NSA chief under Bush I and Clinton; they know his measure.