Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

New Intelligence Director May Be Named [John Lehman 'Leading Candidate']
UPI ^ | Jan. 2

Posted on 01/02/2005 9:47:19 PM PST by West Coast Conservative

President Bush is expected to name the first director of U.S. intelligence as early as this week part of the changes resulting from the Sept. 11 commission.

The White House has been silent on the appointment, but some administration and intelligence officials said a leading candidate is John Lehman, a Republican member of the Sept. 11 commission and former Navy secretary.

However, more than a dozen intelligence professionals interviewed by the Boston Globe said the commission recommended changes do not address the system's biggest problems: a lack of accurate intelligence coming in from the field and a shortage of skilled analysts.

"It does little to address analytic and collection capabilities," Vincent Cannistraro, former head of the CIA's counterterrorism center, told the Globe. "I am not optimistic the so-called reforms are going to lead to quality intelligence. It does nothing to remedy the poor source information we have had."

The new national intelligence director will eclipse the head of the CIA as the president's primary intelligence adviser and control the budgets of the nation's 15 spy agencies.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 911; bush; intelligence; lehman

1 posted on 01/02/2005 9:47:20 PM PST by West Coast Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: West Coast Conservative

Oh, no, no, no not John Lehman---he may be a Repbulican but I didn't get the impression that ANY of the members of the commission were all that competent and impartial.

Wasn't he Sec. of Navy or something? Maybe someone else knows more about him other than 9/11 commission, but based on his "performance" on commission, not impressed.


2 posted on 01/02/2005 9:51:39 PM PST by Txsleuth (Proud to be a Texan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Txsleuth

ditto


3 posted on 01/02/2005 9:53:37 PM PST by Texas_Jarhead (I believe in American Exceptionalism! Do you?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: West Coast Conservative
I always thought Lehman would be a good choice for Director of Homeland Security, but he would probably be even better for this position. He has a very impressive resume:

John F. Lehman was elected to the Ball Corporation board of directors in November 1987 and serves on the finance, human resources and nominating committees. He is currently chairman of J.F. Lehman & Company, and chairman of the board of OAO Technology Solutions, Inc.

Dr. Lehman was formerly chairman of Sperry Marine, Inc. from 1993 to 1996, and prior to that, he was an investment banker with PaineWebber Inc. He served as Secretary of the Navy from 1981 to 1987. Prior to this appointment, he was president of Abington Corporation from 1977 to 1981.

Dr. Lehman began his career in defense and foreign affairs as a staff member of the Foreign Policy Research Institute from 1967 to 1969 at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. From 1969 to 1974 he served as special counsel and senior staff member to Dr. Henry Kissinger on the National Security Council, and from 1974 to 1975 he was a delegate to the Mutual Balanced Force Reduction Negotiations in Vienna. He became deputy director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency in 1975, and was chief operating officer there upon leaving in 1977. He served 25 years as a naval aviator in the selected reserves.

In addition to his directorships at Ball Corporation, J.F. Lehman & Company and OAO Technology Solutions, Inc., Dr. Lehman serves as chairman of the Princess Grace Foundation, as a director of the OpSail Foundation and as a trustee of the LaSalle College High School.

Dr. Lehman holds a bachelor of science degree from St. Joseph's University, Philadelphia, a bachelor of arts and a master of arts degree from Cambridge University, United Kingdom, and a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.

4 posted on 01/02/2005 9:56:29 PM PST by Norman Arbuthnot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: West Coast Conservative
Say what??

No way... this just asfter Richard Fischer, D, gets appointed to the Federal Reserve...

sheesh

5 posted on 01/02/2005 10:08:19 PM PST by GeronL (I am NOT the real bin Laden)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Norman Arbuthnot

Didn't manage the 911 group very well.


6 posted on 01/02/2005 10:11:59 PM PST by mombrown1 (Trust in God and our President)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Norman Arbuthnot

I am confused --- he was the Secretary of Navy, but was never in the navy? or any other branch of military?

I didn't realize they appointed civilians like that---hm

still not impressed yet---we'll see, but I just haven't liked the attitude of any of the committee members. They have all come out like they know-it-all and everyone from the President to the Senate, the House and on down better listen to them if they know whats good for them.


7 posted on 01/02/2005 10:14:26 PM PST by Txsleuth (Proud to be a Texan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: West Coast Conservative

Actually, I think I would be a very good candidate for that job!


8 posted on 01/02/2005 10:18:34 PM PST by 26lemoncharlie (Defending America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 26lemoncharlie

You just might be the right person, although I believe there might some fireworks between you and the Commander in Chief over a few differences ya'll have over say, immigration?


9 posted on 01/02/2005 10:22:46 PM PST by Txsleuth (Proud to be a Texan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Norman Arbuthnot
I think Lehman would be a splendid choice.

First is his confirmability. The other commission members could not bad-mouth him. His Senate colleagues would have to confirm him in a walk.

Second is his resume as you ably summarize it. There are a couple things he did as SecNav that much impress me. He got the great Adm Hyman Rickover to retire. Rickover had done so very much to develop the nuclear Navy, but his time was past and others would not touch him. A second achievement was to eliminate the Naval Material Command, a layer of bureaucracy previously above the Naval Sea Systems Command, Air Systems Command and a couple other "systems" commands. NavMat had day also, but that was long past. It was an impediment to progress that added no value. Taking on such problems as Rickover and NavMat is more than most sub-cabinet officials or even cabinet secretaries can ever expect to accomplish during a normal tenure. I look forward, if he is installed to the new post, to similar repairs to the intelligence system.

10 posted on 01/02/2005 10:28:43 PM PST by jimfree (Freep and ye shall find.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Txsleuth

I'd be pouring Concrete my first day!!! and chasing Illegals Before he woke up!!! No doubt he would be lookin to replace me!!


11 posted on 01/02/2005 10:33:28 PM PST by 26lemoncharlie (Defending America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Norman Arbuthnot

That's quite a resume, but it looks like the guy has been unable to hold a job for any length of time.


12 posted on 01/02/2005 11:21:38 PM PST by Diver Dave (Stay Prayed Up)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Txsleuth
Right on. Lehman was SecNav under Reagan, as I recall. He was a former NFO in the Naval Aviation game; and was only a marginal performer in that role.(personal contacts)

I have no idea how this lightweight got to become well enough connected to flip a seat on the Intel Panel.

But, I can state without reservation that Lehman is of the Kerrey mold; an opportunist, and a consummate pol. I wouldn't trust him to take out the garbage after Sunday dinner.

Bad choice; very bad!
13 posted on 01/02/2005 11:32:40 PM PST by dk/coro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: 26lemoncharlie
I'd be pouring Concrete my first day!!!

Don't do all that work yourself, hire yourself some illegals, they do the jobs most Americans won't do.

14 posted on 01/02/2005 11:38:39 PM PST by BigSkyFreeper (PEST/Suicide Hotline 1-800-BUSH-WON)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: West Coast Conservative

If so, the hearings should focus on who really processed Kerry's honorable discharge, which bears Lehman's signature years after the Kerry left the Navy. Lehman said he NEVER signed it, and that it was AUTOPEN.


15 posted on 01/02/2005 11:39:22 PM PST by montag813
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: montag813
If so, the hearings should focus on who really processed Kerry's honorable discharge,

That'd be a hoot. Kerry sits on that committee.

16 posted on 01/02/2005 11:42:23 PM PST by BigSkyFreeper (PEST/Suicide Hotline 1-800-BUSH-WON)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: dk/coro
Seems to be quite an experienced BUREAU-crat. Is that what's needed here, really? I'm counting on Porter Goss .. BIG time. I think he's shaking trees .. limb from limb, and it's about time. I was hoping he'd be the choice, but I'm sure he's very essential where he is. Just look at the CIA jobsite .. I was stunned. They're looking to fill hundreds of spots .. maybe Uncle Sam wants you?

CIA

17 posted on 01/03/2005 12:28:45 AM PST by STARWISE (Pray for our country, our incredible President, and our unbelievably brave troops.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson