Word: blair
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...When Blair and Panetta were appointed by President Obama, the question was still unanswered, and the matter was taken to the NSC for adjudication. In May, when Blair issued a directive claiming the right, "in rare circumstances," to nominate a non-CIA person as the top intel official in foreign missions, Panetta immediately took issue with it, and the dispute quickly escalated. (See the top 10 CIA movies...
...This was a symbolic fight - it's about who's in charge of the playground," says Amy Zegart, a UCLA professor and national-security expert. "Blair was trying to show who's boss, and Panetta was trying to protect the power of an agency that's going through a difficult time...
...Senate intelligence committee backed the Blair directive, arguing in its 2010 intelligence-authorization bill that the DNI was "exercising his authority under the law." The CIA, however, continued to press its case...
With the NSC and Jones unable to come to a judgment, the matter was taken up to Biden, who held at least two meetings with Panetta and Blair over the past several months. Biden's office, the CIA and the DNI have all refused to comment on these meetings, but officials familiar with the deliberations say that last month the Vice President came down on Panetta's side. (See six ways...
...even now it's not clear that the issue has been fully resolved. Part of the problem is there has not been a general announcement to the intelligence community about Biden's decision. Some experts surmise that this is to spare Blair's feelings. But intelligence insiders say the DNI is taking the view that the matter is still being adjudicated. And indeed, Blair has not rescinded his directive, leaving room for continuing ambiguity...