[jyl]

I can see a couple issues that this appointment raises.

First, will an ex-military CIA chief emphasize technological intelligence-gathering (satellites, etc) over human intelligence-gathering (spies). Admiral Turner did so, from the histories I've read. Some believe that one factor in the intelligence failures leading up to the Iraq war was that, due to insufficient reliable human intelligence from within Iraq, the CIA relied too much on Iraqi expatriates who turned out to have their own agenda.

Second, will this concentrate too much power in one branch of government, i.e. the military. If you believe that decisions are more effective when multiple independent viewpoints are brought together and differences hashed out, then seeing the Defense Department first marginalize the State Department and then assert influence over the CIA could be worrisome.

Third, this guy's role in the NSA's interception of domestic communications by US citizens is going to be controversial.

I haven't reached any particular view on this nominee. He may well be the right man for the job. His nomination may well signal a battle between Negroponte and Rumsfeld for power, rather than the Defense Department gaining power over the CIA. I'm just mentioning some concerns that people will have.