CIA posts statements of support for Gina Haspel’s nomination as CIA director

On March 19, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) posted a collection of statements supporting Gina Haspel’s nomination as CIA director from a range of national security leaders:

“Extraordinary” Leader

Former CIA Director Michael Hayden: “Gina Haspel is precisely the kind of truth teller you want in the room when important decisions are being made.” (quote to CIA, 14 March 2018)

Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper: “I think the world of Gina; she is capable, smart, very experienced, well respected by the Agency rank and file, and a great person.” (Haspel Nominated to Lead CIA, Pompeo to Replace Tillerson, The Cipher Brief, 13 March 2018)

Former CIA Director and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta: “I’m glad that they have a first woman as head of CIA and I’m glad that it’s Gina because frankly she is someone who really knows the CIA inside out.” — “She was a good officer. She served the CIA well…I’m glad that they have a first woman as head of CIA and I’m glad that it’s Gina because frankly she is someone who really knows the CIA inside out.” (CNN Interview, 14 March 2018)

Former Director of CIA’s National Clandestine Service John Bennett: “She is one of the most accomplished officers of her generation.” — “Obviously I am not an objective observer since Ms. Haspel served as my last deputy when I was director of CIA’s National Clandestine Service and succeeded me as Acting Director. That said, she is one of the most accomplished officers of her generation, having held a series of major field commands and headquarters positions…She has taken on some of the most demanding and least rewarding assignments in the War on Terror, not because she sought them out, but because she felt it was her duty during the time of greatest anxiety and uncertainty for the American people in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. She has a proven track record in multiple assignments of being able to work productively with key foreign partners as well as the FBI. She is extremely smart, strong and unfailingly honest. She is totally committed to the CIA’s mission.” (Haspel Nominated to Lead CIA, Pompeo to Replace Tillerson, The Cipher Brief, 13 March 2018)

Ambassador Henry Crumpton: “She is a natural leader. She has extraordinary self-awareness, knowing her strengths and weaknesses.” (Gina Haspel, the undercover spy picked to head the CIA, Financial Times, 16 March 2018)

 

“Fair” and “Objective”

Former CIA Director John Brennan: “She will be able to provide that unvarnished, apolitical, objective intelligence input to Donald Trump and to others.” — “Gina is an exceptionally well-respected professional within CIA. She has held a number of senior-level positions over the years and has [comported] herself very competently, and I think she has the experience—the breadth and depth—on intelligence issues in dealing with these meddlesome foreign policy issues for many, many years so that she will be able to provide that unvarnished, apolitical, objective intelligence input to Donald Trump and to others. (MSNBC Interview, 13 March 2018)

Former CIA Deputy Director and Twice Acting CIA Director Michael Morell: “She is highly capable, she has deep integrity, and she has the best interests of the country, the Agency, and the men and women who serve it at heart.” — “I applaud the President’s nomination of Ms. Haspel to be the Director of CIA. I am certain she will serve the President, the Agency, and the country with distinction. I worked with Ms. Haspel for well over a decade, often on a daily and hourly basis. She is highly capable, she has deep integrity, and she has the best interests of the country, the Agency, and the men and women who serve it at heart. She is widely respected both across CIA and from top to bottom, and she will be welcomed in the new job by both current and former employees. Ms. Haspel’s service as a career operations officer will serve the Agency well in what is its toughest challenge — stealing the secrets that our adversaries are trying to keep from us and that the President needs to know to protect the country.” (quote to CIA, 14 March 2018)

Former CIA Deputy Director and former White House Deputy National Security Advisor Avril Haines: “Gina Haspel is intelligent, compassionate, and fair.” — “Gina Haspel is intelligent, compassionate, and fair. Moreover, Gina has an unparalleled understanding of the institution, the Agency’s work, and she will support the workforce — all attributes the Agency needs from its Director.” (quote to CIA, 14 March 2018)

Former Assistant Director for Collection at CIA Charles Allen: “In a highly threatening world, she fully understands the crucial need to bring objective, all-source intelligence to the President and his Administration—independent of policy.” — “As a CIA officer who served 47 years at the Agency, I welcome the President’s decision to nominate Gina Haspel to be the next Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Gina is a consummate intelligence professional who deeply understands CIA’s extraordinary global capabilities, and the vital role it plays in helping keep the country safe. Resilient and trustworthy, she played a central role after 9/11 in helping to protect the nation fight back during one of the most challenging chapters in our nation’s history. In a highly threatening world, she fully understands the crucial need to bring objective, all-source intelligence to the President and his Administration—independent of policy.” (quote to CIA, 14 March 2018)

Former CIA station chief Daniel Hoffman: “She’s the kind of person who will listen in and want to hear what everyone will have to say.” — “She’s the kind of person who will listen in and want to hear what everyone will have to say… She’ll be a great consigliere on Russia.” (Gina Haspel, the undercover spy picked to head the CIA, Financial Times, 16 March 2018)

 

“Committed to the Rule of Law”

Former Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Mike Rogers: “Her commitment to the mission and rule of law are unparalleled” — “I can say without hesitation that Gina Haspel is an exceptional leader and committed to the mission to keep America safe. She has demonstrated the grit and savvy needed in difficult situations that have earned her the respect of colleagues and adversaries alike. She will make an excellent Director of the CIA. Her commitment to the mission and rule of law are unparalleled.” (quote to CIA, 14 March 2018)

Former CIA Acting General Counsel and Senior Deputy General Counsel Robert Eatinger: “As a lawyer, Gina was great to work with.” — “If confirmed, Gina will be a great CIA director. She is a very experienced and thoughtful operations officer who has held a series of leadership posts…That strength in leadership, especially when learned in the ‘school of hard knocks,’ is today often undervalued by those seeking only the satisfaction of retribution…The senators are entitled to the information they need to vote for or against her confirmation. I hope they use their opportunity to learn what sort of leadership, insight, caution and judgment the Gina Haspel of 2018 would bring to the position of DCIA. If they do, I think they would find their interests in effective intelligence within the laws and values of the United States will be best furthered and protected with a CIA headed by Gina.” (Haspel Nominated to Lead CIA, Pompeo to Replace Tillerson, The Cipher Brief, 13 March 2018)

Partner at Arnold & Porter and former Counselor to the Attorney General Amy Jeffress: “She is thoughtful, conscientious and committed to the rule of law” — “I worked closely with Gina during my government service. She is thoughtful, conscientious and committed to the rule of law. She is very well respected within the Agency and is an excellent choice for Director” (quote to CIA, 13 March 2018)

Former Attorney General Michael Mukasey: “Anyone concerned with protecting this nation’s security should welcome her nomination” — “Gina Haspel is superbly well qualified to head the CIA, not only by experience in directing the Agency’s operations but also by the well-earned esteem she has throughout the intelligence community. Anyone concerned with protecting this nation’s security should welcome her nomination.” (quote to CIA, 14 March 2018)

Source: CIA