Update [2005-2-17 9:52:38 by thirdparty]: confirmed by
MSNBC:
WASHINGTON - President Bush has chosen Iraq Ambassador John Negroponte to be the nation's first new national intelligence director, NBC News has confirmed.
Bush was to formally reveal his choice at a 10 a.m. ET ceremony at the White House.
Negroponte was at the White House two days ago, and was offered the job at that time, NBC News learned.
This position is subject to Senate confirmation. Negroponte is in no way qualified to serve in this position.
Here was the first article I posted, AP via
NYTimes, which mentioned some other, less terrifying names:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush is naming the nation's first national intelligence director, the powerful overseer of 15 separate intelligence agencies including the CIA.
He was to reveal his choice at a White House ceremony Thursday.
Among those thought to be in the running are White House homeland security adviser Fran Townsend, Army Gen. Tommy Franks, the retired commander of U.S. Central Command, National Security Agency head Lt. Gen. Michael Hayden and CIA Director Porter Goss.
Another name that has been bandied about is that of retired Adm. William O. Studeman, former deputy director of the CIA and onetime head of the National Security Agency . He has served on a commission that Bush created last year to investigate America's intelligence operations.
Update [2005-2-17 10:31:42 by thirdparty]:
Please read and recommend bink's "Negroponte Fact Center" diary, and post any information there on why his nomination must be opposed.