White House narrows search for new CIA director
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-07-13 11:13

The White House search for a new CIA director is narrowing after several high-profile candidates dropped out, people close to the process said on Monday.

US President George W. Bush is expected to make his selection as early as later this week. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage is one of several contenders, and some say he may have the best chance of swift Senate confirmation.

US Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) gestures during an interview on the television news program 'Fox News Sunday' July 11, 2004 in Washington. Senate Intelligence Committee leaders called on President Bush to name a new CIA director quickly amid heightened terror fears and widespread concerns about U.S. intelligence flaws.  [Reuters]

Former Democratic Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia said though a spokeswoman on Monday that he is not interested.

It may be the most difficult and important job search of Bush's tenure, and people close to the process say Vice President Dick Cheney is playing a key role.

"The president will name a permanent CIA director in due course," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

"It really will be the president's decision, they are clearly putting together a list of people," one government source said.

The new director would take over the spy agency at a time of harsh criticism that prewar intelligence reports exaggerated information that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

Increasing the sense of urgency are government warnings that al Qaeda is plotting another major attack against the 5United States before the November presidential election.

The White House was initially wary of appointing a permanent replacement to George Tenet, who officially stepped down as CIA director on Sunday, but lawmakers said the job needed to be filled quickly rather than after the election.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Porter Goss, a Florida Republican, once considered a front-runner for the job, met opposition from lawmakers who say the nominee should be outside of politics.

Administration officials on Monday played down the prospects of either Goss or John Lehman, a former Navy Secretary now serving on a commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Armitage is an ally of Secretary of State Colin Powell and has clashed with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's Pentagon.

Last month, Armitage said he suspected his days in government were numbered and suggested he may not be eager for a job with even more pressure, but another US official said Armitage would be unlikely to refuse a request from Bush.

McClellan declined to comment on Armitage's prospects.

Even if Bush were to name a candidate this week, it would be difficult to get the nominee confirmed before the Senate's summer recess, which begins July 24.

National security adviser Condoleezza Rice signaled an overhaul of intelligence services may not quickly follow the naming of a new CIA chief. She told CNN, "We do need to step back and look at what kind of intelligence capability we're going to need."

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