Hopenchange at the CIA

Politics | Thu, Jan 22, 2009 at 8:52:30 am PST

It’s all about hope, and reaching out...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. intelligence agencies should seek ways of working with Islamic leaders and countries such as Iran on issues of mutual interest, President Barack Obama’s choice for spy chief said on Thursday.

Retired Adm. Dennis Blair also urged a break with the Bush administration intelligence policies in a Senate confirmation hearing his nomination as director of national intelligence. This includes applying standards across the government for humane treatment of terrorism suspects.

“Identifying opportunities as well as threats is an extremely important balance for intelligence agencies to strike,” Blair said.

... and restoring America’s moral standing in the eyes of the world.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama’s choice for U.S. spy chief backed closing Guantanamo prison and said humane treatment standards for terrorism suspects must apply throughout the government, breaking with the Bush administration’s insistence on an exemption for the CIA.

“I agree with the president that the detention center at Guantanamo has become a damaging symbol to the world and that it must be closed,” retired Adm. Dennis Blair told a Senate hearing on his nomination as Director of National Intelligence.