The New CIA Director

Gina Haspel was confirmed yesterday as the new director of the CIA.  While I was initially strongly opposed to her confirmation, due to her involvement with torture and the destruction of the tapes depicting said torture, I have evolved to be cautiously in favor.

The reason is that the alternative would likely be worse. As a 33-year veteran of the CIA, Haspel knows the agency inside out. The alternative would likely be a political appointee, as most are, and therefore someone unfamiliar with how the agency functions.

Also, her involvement with torture occurred at a time when it was considered lawful, and also when she was not the person in charge of the agency. The destruction of the tapes she has explained as necessary to avoid outing CIA personnel.

The Senate confirmation vote was 54-45, with three Republicans opposed, Rand Paul, Jeff Flake, and John McCain, with McCain not voting due to his illness. Since the GOP majority is only 51-49, this meant that six Democrats voted yes. These six are Manchin of WV, Heitkamp of ND, Donnelly of IN, Nelson of FL, Warner of VA, and Shaheen of NH.