Yesterday there was a report in the Wall Street Journal asserting that "President-elect Barack Obama is unlikely to radically overhaul controversial Bush administration intelligence policies," something which could lead to "tension within the Democratic Party." The article quotes former intelligence official Roger Cressey saying that Obama would take a "very centrist approach to these issues," making some people wonder exactly what the "centrist" position on the legality of torture is.
Obviously, this is all somewhat disturbing, but Steve Benen points to a Washington Post article today asserting the opposite of the Journal story:
The nation's top two intelligence officers expect to be replaced by President-elect Barack Obama early in his administration, according to senior intelligence officials.A number of influential congressional Democrats oppose keeping Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell and CIA Director Michael V. Hayden in their posts because both have publicly supported controversial Bush administration policies on interrogation and telephone surveillance. One Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee said there is a "consensus" view on the matter.
If Obama does intend to replace Hayden and McConnell, it's hard to see that as an endorsement of their methods. So it's a reminder that no one actually seems to know for sure what Obama's position on such things will be. Lest we need another reminder that these articles are essentially guessing games, the Obama camp is pushing back today against an AP article that named several people as part of his national security brain trust. I plan on waiting for an actual statement from the Obama team on who will be in their administration and what their position is on torture before I pass judgment.
--A. Serwer
