WASHINGTON, July 12 (UPI) -- Leading members of Congress are pushing President Bush to quickly to replace recently departed CIA director George Tenet.
Appearing separately Sunday on the NBC's Meet the Press and Fox News Sunday, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Pat Roberts, R Kan., and ranking Democrat Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, each urged a successor to Tenet be named quickly by Bush because of the risk of another terrorist attack in the United States.
Sens. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, also urged a quick appointment, citing the need for a "fresh start" at the agency with each noting the qualifications of Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage for the post.
Armitage is one of several leading candidates rumored in contention for the post on a list that also includes House Intelligence Chairman Porter Goss, R-Fla., former Navy Secretary John Lehman, and former Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga., who now co-chairs an anti-nuclear proliferation group in Washington.
While the push is bipartisan, it is not without critics, including Intelligence Committee member Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who has called for a reshaping of the federal intelligence sector before a new CIA chief is appointed.
Among the changes proposed is the creation of a new executive branch position to oversee the 15 separate federal intelligence agencies
In addition, the choice of a candidate viewed as too partisan, such as Rep. Goss, would likely be met with criticism from Senate Democrats.
