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U.S. NEWS Friday 18 May 2018
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Gina Haspel confirmed as new CIA director

the so-called “enhanced “The bottom line is this: No they thought her experi-
interrogation techniques” one has ever been held ence was essential in con-
the CIA used at black sites, accountable for the tor- fronting today’s threats
including slamming de- ture program and I do not from U.S. adversaries like
tainees against walls and believe those who were Russia, North Korea, China
confining them in coffin- intimately involved in it de- and Iran.
shaped boxes, amounted serve to lead the agency,” Among Democrats sup-
to “government-sanc- Feinstein said before cast- porting Haspel were sev-
tioned torture.” ing her vote against Haspel. eral up for re-election this
Haspel has vowed never Since Trump nominated fall in states where Trump
to restart such a program Haspel, her confirmation is popular, including Sen.
and says her “strong mor- has been clouded by de- Joe Manchin of West Vir-
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., departs on the Senate subway after a al compass” would pre- bate over the CIA’s former ginia, Sen. Heidi Heitkamp
vote on Gina Haspel to be CIA director, on Capitol Hill, Thursday, vent her from carrying out interrogation program. A of North Dakota, Sen. Joe
May 17, 2018 in Washington. any presidential order she protester in the Senate visi- Donnelly of Indiana and
Continued from Front frontline and executive in- found objectionable. That tor gallery briefly disrupted Sen. Bill Nelson in Florida.
telligence expertise. “We was enough to coax some speeches ahead of the Also voting yes were Sen.
The 54-45 vote split both salute Director Haspel, a senators into the “yes” col- vote with shouts against Jeanne Shaheen of New
parties, and the margin trailblazer who today be- umn. But Leahy said he still the CIA. Hampshire and Sen. Mark
was the closest for a CIA comes the first woman to questioned her judgment Three Republicans op- Warner of Virginia, the
nominee in the nearly sev- lead the CIA,” he said. and lamented that she has posed her: Sen. John Mc- ranking member of the in-
en decades that a nod Her opponents argued that never publicly condemned Cain of Arizona, who is telligence committee.
from the Senate has been it wasn’t right to promote torture as “immoral.” battling cancer and did “This has not been an easy
required. Haspel, who has someone who supervised He wondered aloud what not vote; Sen. Rand Paul decision,” Warner said,
spent nearly all of her 33- a covert detention site in Haspel would do if she’s of Kentucky; and Sen. Jeff adding that he’d met and
year CIA career in under- Thailand where terror sus- asked to do something that Flake of Arizona. talked with Haspel many
cover positions, is the first pects were waterboarded, goes against America’s Six Democrats, however, times in the past several
career operations officer to an interrogation technique core values. “Should we were heartened by her weeks. He said he’s con-
be confirmed since William that simulates drowning. trust that she will have the pledge to never restart vinced that Haspel could
Colby in 1973. They said the U.S. needed moral compass to stand up harsh interrogation pro- and would stand up to
Haspel, 61, is a native of to slam closed what was and say ‘No?’” he asked. grams, even if Trump re- Trump, who has voiced sup-
Kentucky but grew up one of the CIA’s dark- “Based on what we’ve quested. They said they port for waterboarding and
around the world as the est chapters that tainted seen, I do not.” voted for Haspel because has said “torture works.”q
daughter of an Air Force America’s image with allies
serviceman. She worked abroad.
in Africa, Europe and clas- Several senators said Has-
sified locations around the pel was not forthcoming in
globe and was tapped as answering questions about
deputy director of the CIA her role in the torture pro-
last year. She worked under gram or the CIA’s decision
former CIA director Mike to destroy video-taped evi-
Pompeo until President dence of the sessions. They
Donald Trump moved him also had questions about
to secretary of state. her rejection of the now-
Haspel was backed by banned techniques.
many in the CIA rank- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.,
and-file and was robustly said in a floor speech that
supported by senior intel- Haspel “offered up almost
ligence officials, including the classic Washington
six former CIA directors and non-apology.” He asked
three former national intel- how the Senate could take
ligence directors, who said seriously Haspel’s “conver-
she earned the chance to sion on torture?”
take the helm of the na- Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.,
tion’s premier spy agency. said the world was watch-
National Intelligence Di- ing the confirmation vote,
rector Dan Coats said Has- which he called a “refer- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., talks with a reporter as he arrives for a vote on Gina Haspel to be CIA
pel has integrity and both endum on torture.” He said director, on Capitol Hill, Thursday, May 17, 2018 in Washington.