General Hayden Confirmed

Posted on May 26, 2006

After hearing assurances he will be independent of the Pentagon, the Senate on Friday easily confirmed Gen. Michael Hayden, a career Air Force man, to head the CIA.

Hayden, a four-star general, currently is the top deputy to National Intelligence Director John Negroponte.

Hayden, 61, would be the first active-duty or retired military officer to run the spy agency in 25 years. He was approved by a vote of 78-15.

At his confirmation hearing, Hayden sought to assure lawmakers he would be independent from his military superiors but said he would consider how his uniform affects his relationship with CIA personnel. If it were to get in the way, he said, “I’ll make the right decision.”

Good news! I’m sure it won’t be long before we hear about the ACLU’s dissapointment.

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Wow!!! That didn’t take long!

The American Civil Liberties Union today expressed concern as the Senate confirmed General Michael Hayden as the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. General Hayden was most recently Deputy Director of National Intelligence and was the Director of the National Security Agency when the illegal surveillance programs were initiated.

“Stepping into his new position, General Hayden must now conform to the rule of law,” said Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. “Not only permitting, but directing, the warrantless wiretapping of millions of Americans while head of the NSA is a troubling record. We are hopeful that General Hayden will begin anew and start respecting the constitutional rights of all Americans.”

Oh, by the way…The ACLU is a non-partisan organization and neither endorses or opposes government agency nominations.