US News
In disputed choice, Bush taps general to head CIA (Roundup)
By DPA
May 8, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Washington - US President George W. Bush Monday picked an air force general to head the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), setting up a tough confirmation fight in Congress over the nominee\'s military background.

Bush said General Michael Hayden is \'supremely qualified for this position\' and touted his nominee\'s more than two decades of experience in the intelligence field. But some lawmakers worry about a military man\'s filling a position normally reserved for a civilian.

\'Mike knows our intelligence community from the ground up,\' Bush said.

Until last year, Hayden led the super-secretive National Security Agency (NSA). He currently serves as the deputy to National Intelligence Director John Negroponte, a post created by Bush as part of reforms to US intelligence after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington to coordinate all US spy agencies.

But the focus is likely to be on Hayden\'s NSA past. He can anticipate tough questions about a Bush-authorized NSA domestic spying programme to monitor telephone conversations between people in the United States with suspected terrorists overseas.

News media revealed the programme\'s existence late last year, sparking debate on whether it violated privacy laws and adding to criticism of the Bush administration. Hayden oversaw the programme while heading the NSA.

If confirmed by the Senate, he would replace Porter Goss, who unexpectedly resigned Friday.

Members of Bush\'s Republican Party and opposition Democrats have indicated their opposition to the nominee. But Bush, whose job approval ratings are the lowest of his 5-year-old presidency, chose to move forward with his choice.

Hayden said he would meet with Congress to get a \'better understanding\' of their concerns and pledged to work with lawmakers to improve American intelligence gathering.

Goss reportedly resigned over a power struggle with Negroponte and concerns that the CIA role in the US intelligence community has been marginalized since the creation of the intelligence coordinator\'s position.

Negroponte backed Hayden\'s nomination on Monday, saying his military status will not affect his ability to stake out independent views when assessing intelligence.

\'I don\'t think this concern is well founded,\' he said.