director of national intelligence

Marc Ambinder has a seriously detailed curtain-raiser on a turf war that’s roiled the intelligence community for months. Dennis Blair, the director of national intelligence, and Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, have clashed over who controls the top U.S. intelligence officer in various foreign countries. But Ambinder goes way deeper to provide a [...]

What do I mean when I say that the inspectors general report on warrantless surveillance shows a larger role for CIA in the post-9/11 surveillance efforts than has been previously disclosed? According to the report, CIA would prepare a threat briefing for President Bush justifying the need for such surveillance. Then-CIA Director George Tenet’s chief [...]

T.I. has prudent advice for conflict mediation. Marc Ambinder reports that the dispute over whether CIA Director Leon Panetta or Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair should have the authority to appoint and remove intelligence chiefs in foreign stations — historically a CIA prerogative — is going to Vice President Joe Biden for a resolution. [...]

A big obstacle to retired Adm. Dennis Blair’s confirmation as director of national intelligence concerns his interactions with the Indonesian government as U.S. Pacific Command chief, when it came to East Timorese independence from Indonesia in 2000. Blair defended himself in an interaction with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) saying that he didn’t, as accused, turned [...]

To tell you the truth, I’m not sure if this is news, but Adm. Dennis Blair (Ret.) told the Senate intelligence committee that there will be at least some significant continuity in the intelligence community. Army Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander will stay as head of the National Security Agency, and Army Lt. Gen. Ron Burgess [...]

Retired Adm. Dennis Blair is up before the Senate intelligence committee for his confirmation as director of national intelligence, the head of the 16-agency intelligence community and the chief intelligence adviser to the president and his cabinet. It’s a job that hasn’t yet lived up to its promise of harmonizing a fractious community. Sen. Dianne [...]

Just emailed to reporters: outgoing Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell’s praise for incoming DNI Denny Blair.
I am very pleased to learn that President-elect Obama has nominated Admiral Dennis C. Blair to be the next DNI.
Admiral Blair has been a colleague and friend for more than 20 years. His reputation for intelligence, insight and leadership [...]