Hagel Joining Intelligence Oversight Board Neglected by Bush, Obama

Chuck Hagel, former Republican Senator from Nebraska, Vietnam veteran, and short-lister for various Obama national security cabinet posts, is soon to be named as co-chairman of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board, according to Al Kamen of the Washington Post. Hagel, known for his independent views and national security expertise, could use this new position as a senior intelligence oversight official to influence to Obama administration policy.

Or not. Much will depend on whether the Obama administration starts paying attention to the PIAB. Obama has waited more than seven months to name new PIAB members, having left the panel "kind of running on autopilot," to borrow a turn of phrase from Homer Pointer, staff counsel to the PIAB.

Also uncertain: whether Obama plans to restore PIAB oversight authority taken away by Bush executive orders. Previously, PIAB had been empowered to refer possible criminal and civil violations directly to the Department of Justice, and exercised strong oversight over intelligence agency inspectors general. But Bush'significantly weakened the PIAB last year by removing the body's oversight and legal powers, effectively reducing it to an advisory role.

Hagel's appointment to the PIAB could be a signal that the Obama administration intends to reinvigorate the neglected board and intelligence oversight efforts, perhaps to assuage concerns from the progressive base that Obama has not moved fast enough to end Bush-era national security excesses. Despite a widely praised speech last week by top national security adviser John Brennan that supposedly marked a dramatic shift in U.S. counterterrorism, Obama's reform-minded critics point out that many Bush policies remain intact. Tough-talking, outspoken Hagel could serve as a counterweight to advocates of retreaded Bush intelligence policy, such as Brennan and CIA Director Leon Panetta.

Unfortunately, a Hagel-helmed PIAB is unlikely to suddenly mount a campaign of intelligence reform and accountability. By all accounts, Hagel is an Obama loyalist, gamely unwilling to rock the boat if his eye is on succeeding Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense.

The Obama national security team has shown little interest in the PIAB over the past seven months, which fits with the Obama administration's demonstrated preference for retaining the substance of Bush-era national security policies (state secrets, drone strikes) with superficial changes in rhetoric (no more 'War on Terror') and symbolism (transplanting Guantanamo, flawed procedures and all, to Michigan or Kansas). Hagel will give Obama more bipartisan credibility, and more of that appearance of change without the risk of actual change.

 

 

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Comments

[jubei]

Hell yeah iam rolling with Chuck Hagel and I say this as a Liberal,Hagel is the man,Obama needs to bring Hagel and Gen.Wes Clark on board!!

[nessus]

Frank, as an amateur intelligence community watcher, I’m a huge fan of your stuff. But here I have to disagree with you; I would say more that Obama is an admirer of Hagel than the other way around. Even if it were so, Hagel is not the kind of person to not rock the boat – he was certainly a vocal thorn in Bush’s side.

I would think it much more likely that Hagel signals a real attempt to beef up PIAB. You and I know that Intel is not exactly Obama’s strongest class, so I can at least understand why he has been both slow and reluctant to make major changes inside the black box.

It seems to me that we want to turn the Intel ship around without destroying the morale of the crew. I for one am very happy to see Obama looking and waiting for highly qualified people to make these kinds of changes. I think the progressive noise-o-sphere is expecting the President to pull a bunny from his butt yesterday in terms of immediately changing everything they didn’t like about Bush, no matter what the possible ramifications.

For that matter, Pres. Obama’s style has never been to smack down people for disagreeing with him; it could very well be that Hagel can go ahead and rock the boat pretty hard without any fear that it would affect his chances at SecDef, if that is what he ultimately wants.

[MikeRdg]

Questions come in -- this is not directed to or anything about Chuck Hagel.
that said.
__________­__________­__________­__________­__

Obama I am sure is encountering, perhaps without knowing Democrats which owe questionable Republicans within their state, and owe big time. The alliance can be, and are more than likely concealed. I use the term 'questionable' because other conservatives have serious questions regarding these peers in their own political party.

[MikeRdg]

Hagel has had a good name on being outspoken.

[Tane]

I don't think Hagel is a mindless Obama loyalist. He is independent minded and willing to speak his mind. Obama trusts and respects his opinion, so I see this as a very positive move. I would love to see him in Defense if Gates leaves (although Gates has indicated that he loves working for Obama and wants to stay).

[pomegrante]

chuck hagel has finally surfaced! a REAL war hero and maverick that the pres desperately needs on his team.

[Pie7]

I like Chuck Hagel and any position he gets in the Obama admination is good news.