Top Choice: New CIA Candidate

Monday, May 15, 2006

By Geoff Morrell, ABC News' World News Tonight

May 6, 2006

JIM AVILA (ABC NEWS) (Off-camera) But we begin tonight with the President's quick moves to choose the next director of the CIA, the fourth leader of the troubled agency in just two years. ABC News has learned the top choice is Air Force General Michael Hayden, and that his selection is expected to be announced Monday. Hayden has made a name for himself as an architect of the divisive national security agency program to spy on Americans without a warrant. Tonight, ABC's Geoff Morrell joins us from the White House, on who's next at the CIA. Geoff?

GEOFF MORRELL (ABC NEWS)

(Off-camera) Jim, the White House knows it may have a fight on its hands to get Hayden confirmed because of the NSA issue. But even if they have to revisit that controversy, they believe it is worth it because Hayden is ideally suited for the job.

GEOFF MORRELL (ABC NEWS)

(Voiceover) Both the president and his outgoing CIA director were speaking to graduating college students today. But neither shed any light on why Porter Goss is leaving the agency, after just 19 months in charge. Goss would only say "it's one of those mysteries." A spokesperson for Mr. Bush said, reports he had lost confidence in Goss are "categorically untrue." What is true, according to several sources, is that Goss had lost the confidence of his immediate boss, John Negroponte, the director of national intelligence. The man Negroponte wants running the CIA, is his top deputy, General Michael Hayden.

JAMES BAMFORD (NATIONAL SECURITY JOURNALIST)

Hayden is a fairly quick learner when it comes to intelligence. That's what he's been doing all his life. The only thing really new he has to learn here is how to run human spies around the world.

GEOFF MORRELL (ABC NEWS)

(Voiceover) Senior Administration officials say Hayden is the perfect candidate, having successfully managed huge intelligence bureaucracies for years.

GENERAL MICHAEL HAYDEN (DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE)

I cannot give you an estimate of the number of communications intercepted.

GEOFF MORRELL (ABC NEWS)

(Voiceover) Still, members of Congress say the General will face a contentious confirmation because he headed the National Security Agency, when it launched its controversial program to spy on Americans.

TIM ROEMER (9/11 COMMISSION)

It could be a bloody and bruising battle. He was at the NSA when the wiretaps were authorized. It will be going into the midterm election.

GEOFF MORRELL (ABC NEWS)

(Off-camera) Members of Congress I spoke with today say the hearings could get ugly. But in the end, they believe that Hayden will be confirmed by the Senate. And then, Jim, begins the tough work of boosting morale and improving intelligence at the beleaguered agency.

JIM AVILA (ABC NEWS)

(Off-camera) A difficult but important job. Geoff Morrell, at the White House, thanks.

JIM AVILA (ABC NEWS)

(Voiceover) One program note. Two, key members of the Senate intelligence committee, Republican Saxby Chambliss and Democrat Dianne Feinstein will debate the changes at the CIA tomorrow on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."