The U.S. Senate has confirmed John Brennan as the next director of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
On Thursday, Mr. Brennan was nominated by a vote of 63 to 34 who happens to be currently the counter terrorism adviser to the U.S. President Barack Obama.
In fact, the vote was delayed by a 13-hour long an exceptionally long speech by Republican Senator Rand Paul of Connecticut in pursuit of more information about the administration’s domestic drone policy.
Moreover, welcoming the nomination, Mr. Obama said that the Senate has recognised Mr. Brennan’s qualities and determination to keep U.S. safe along with his commitment to work with Congress and build relationships with foreign partners.
He added, with John’s 25 years of experience at the Agency, their extraordinary men and women of the CIA will be led by one of their own and that he is especially appreciative to Michael Morell for being such an outstanding Acting Director and for agreeing to continue his service as Deputy Director while he continued saying that the timely accurate intelligence is absolutely critical to disrupting terrorist attacks, dismantling al-Qaeda along with its affiliates and meeting the broad array of security challenges that we face as a nation.
Mr. Obama included that John’s leadership and their dedicated intelligence professionals will be essential in these efforts and that he is deeply grateful to John and his family for their continued service to their nation.
In fact, the vote on confirmation was moved through the Senate as Mr. Paul lifted his long speech after receiving response to his question from the Attorney-General, Eric Holder.
According to Mr. Holder’s letter to Mr. Paul, the answer to the question that does the President have the authority to use a weaponised drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil? It's no!
To conclude, Mr. Paul said this is a major victory for American civil liberties and ensures the protection of their basic Constitutional rights and that they have Separation of Powers to protect their rights which is why the government was organised to do while Constitution was put in place to do.
(AW:Samrat Biswas)
