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Bush Opens Door For Militarization Of U.S. Spy
Agencies
08 May 2006
by Anai Rhoads
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AnaiRhoads.org - The
replacement for Porter Goss came swiftly Monday morning as President
Bush appointed Air Force General Michael Hayden to be the new
director of the CIA.
Without explanation, Goss resigned his position with the CIA Friday,
leaving Bush the opportunity to nominate someone extemporarily. The reasons
behind Goss' departure are still a mystery, but many believe he was
pressured to leave in order to replace him with the controversial
Hayden.
Both sides are wary of Hayden for two main reasons - he masterminded
the spy programme at the National Security Agency (NSA), where
thousands of Americans were spied upon without a court order or warrant.
Secondly, not many agree that a military officer is appropriate to
lead a civilian based, high-level position.
There is also great speculation that the Bush administration is
planning to move Deputy CIA Director Vice Admiral Albert Calland III
out of office in order to placate pundits who worry today's
appointment may merely be a military takeover of CIA.
"The CIA has been just gobbled up by the Defense Department." said
Senator Joseph Biden (D-Del).
If the 61 year-old Hayden is confirmed by the Senate, military
officers would control all key spy agencies, and other officials
within the CIA may soon be replaced.
"During his time as director of the National Security Agency, Hayden implemented an illegal domestic spying programme in clear violation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act," said People For the American Way President Ralph G. Neas. "What the Bush administration has made plain is that it believes the executive branch of government is not obligated to follow laws that protect Americans' civil liberties. That is unacceptable."
After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Hayden, with the
approval of the White House, approved electronic monitoring of
Americans. This went on without court orders and completely
warrantless.
Hayden has a pugnacious reputation for violating the 4th Ammendment,
the Wiretap Act, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA). Hayden ran the
NSA from 1999 until 2004, where then he took the job as top deputy to
the new national intelligence director, John Negroponte.
This isn't the first time a military officer lead the agency. Admiral Stansfield Turner worked during the Carter administration.
Related Story:
EXCLUSIVE: CIA Nominee Hayden Linked to MZM
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