By Scott Shane
Published: 01-26-09
WASHINGTON — Dennis C. Blair the retired admiral who is President Obama’s choice as the nation’s top intelligence official pledged in testimony on Tuesday that he would require counterterrorism programs to operate “in a manner consistent with our nation’s values consistent with our Constitution and consistent with the rule of law.”
During a hearing that occurred as President Obama signed new executive orders rolling back Bush Administration detention and interrogation policies Mr. Blair signaled a new approach on such controversial issues as eavesdropping without warrants and harsh interrogation methods used by the Central Intelligence Agency.
“The intelligence agencies of the United States must respect the privacy and civil liberties of the American people and they must adhere to the rule of law” Mr. Blair said in testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
The sixth generation naval officer did not face particularly difficult questioning and is expected to be easily confirmed by the committee.
He said that the Obama administration would carry out a review of interrogation policy and that both military and intelligence interrogators would follow a uniform standard. Under questioning however he said he believed that some interrogation procedures and methods ought to remain secret so potential adversaries cannot train to resist them.
“We don’t want to provide open intelligence support for those who are coming after us” he said.
Addressing complaints that the intelligence agencies have evaded Congressional oversight and skirted the law Mr. Blair promised a different approach.
“I do not and will not support any surveillance activities that circumvent established processes for their lawful authorization” he said in the testimony. “I believe in the importance of independent monitoring including by Congress to prevent abuses and protect civil liberties.”
In an unusual comment from a man who will head the most secret agencies of government he said “There is a need for transparency and accountability in a mission where most work necessarily remains hidden from public view.”
He said that if confirmed he would “communicate frequently and candidly with the oversight committees and as much as possible with the American people.”
On the issue of detainee treatment perhaps the most divisive security issue since 2001 Mr. Blair called torture “not moral legal or effective” and said any interrogation program would have to comply with the Geneva Conventions the Convention against Torture and the Constitution.
Though he is not a career intelligence professional Mr. Blair served for two years as a senior C.I.A. official. He referred indirectly to the flawed intelligence before the Iraq war when the Bush White House pressed the agencies for information on the threat posed by Saddam Hussein.
“There is an obligation to speak truth to power” he said adding that he would honestly present “unpleasant” facts to the president.
He said he would seek an “extremely important balance” for the 16 intelligence agencies which employ about 100000 people suggesting that he would emphasize the soft power of diplomacy and economic development as well as the tougher counterterrorism efforts that got most attention under President Bush.
He said that in addition to backing the military and intelligence operatives in hunting down terrorists the agencies should support “policymakers who are looking for opportunities to engage and work with Arab and Muslim leaders who are striving for a progressive and peaceful future for their religion and their countries.”
