Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Legal News Blogs -> JURIST - The Paper Chase

Legal News

: JURIST - The Paper Chase

Intelligence director nominee stresses civil liberties in testimony

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Admiral Dennis Blair, nominated by US President Barack Obama for Director of National Intelligence, on Thursday stressed his respect for civil liberties and lawfulness in intelligence investigations during testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee in anticipation of his expected appointment. Blair addressed the treatment of detainees by stating his opposition to the use of torture and agreement with Obama's order to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. Blair said that he planned to: carry out the mission of the Intelligence Community in a manner consistent with our Nation's values, consistent with our Constitution and consistent with the rule of law. 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.In a pre-hearing questionnaire, Blair responded to 54 questions from the committee that covered his understanding of the position and his standing on several issues. In one response, he wrote, "I see it as my responsibility to make it clear that protecting the privacy and civil liberties of Americans is as important as gathering intelligence."Blair has served as Commander of US forces in the Pacific and as Associate Director of Central Intelligence for Military Support. In completing his intelligence team, Obama also chose John Brennan to serve as Homeland Security Advisor and Deputy National Security Advisor for Counter-terrorism as an Assistant to the President and Leon Panetta to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). If approved, Panetta will replace current director Michael Hayden who has defended the use of controversial interrogation techniques. Hayden called interrogation techniques such as waterboarding harsh but effective. Blair stated in his testimony that he did not believe such torturous acts were effective as a means of investigation.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on January 23, 2009 (boomark / email).