Brennan confirmation hearing and the role of the CIA

In anticipation of John Brennan's appearance before the Senate Select Committee this afternoon for his confirmation hearing for CIA Director, President Obama announced late last night that he will provide the secret Justice Department memo authorizing the targeted killings of American terrorism suspects abroad to the congressional intelligence committees.

These developments, which lawmakers had long sought, have placed an added significance on today’s hearing. Brennan will also need to explain how drone strikes fit into the nation’s  larger national security strategy? To what extent should the nation’s intelligence agency be involved in military related activities? Why classified national security information has been leaked by the Administration?  And what can be done to prevent such leaks in the future?

AEI scholars available to offer pre and post analysis of the Brennan hearings, the DoJ memo, and the use of drones are: Marc A. Thiessen and Phillip Lohaus.

Contact MediaServices@aei.org (202.862.5829) to set up an interview. 

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About the Author

 

Marc A.
Thiessen
  • A member of the White House senior staff under President George W. Bush, Marc A. Thiessen served as chief speechwriter to the president and to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Prior to joining the Bush administration, Thiessen spent more than six years as spokesman and senior policy adviser to Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Jesse Helms (R-N.C.). He is a weekly columnist for the Washington Post, and his articles can be found in many major publications. His book on the Central Intelligence Agency's interrogation program, Courting Disaster (Regnery Press, 2010), is a New York Times bestseller. At AEI, Thiessen writes about U.S. foreign and defense policy issues for The American and the Enterprise Blog. He appears every Sunday on Fox News Channel's "Fox and Friends" and makes frequent appearances on other TV and talk radio programs.


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  • Phone: 202-862-7173
    Email: marc.thiessen@aei.org
  • Assistant Info

    Name: Justin Lang
    Phone: (202) 862-5948
    Email: Justin.Lang@aei.org

 

Phillip
Lohaus
  • Phillip Lohaus has worked on national security issues in both the public and private sectors. While in government, Phillip focused on Middle East non-proliferation and economic security issues and served in both strategic and tactical assignments in support of the US military abroad. He is primarily interested in forward-looking questions, to include future warfare strategy and capabilities as well as the evolving use of American Special Forces. He has conducted studies into foreign denial and deception capabilities and supported various war gaming exercises both inside and outside of government. He has received numerous awards for his work, to include a Joint Civilian Service Commendation Medal from USSOCOM.

  • Phone: 202-862-5932
    Email: phillip.lohaus@aei.org

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Tuesday, May 21, 2013 | 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Free beer: Liberating libations from ‘Bootleggers and Baptists’

Join us for a discussion of the history and future of federal and state alcohol regulation and competition, followed by a reception with beer, wine, and spirits.

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NCLB sanctions: Tests taken, lessons learned

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Competing visions of the common good: Rethinking help for the poor

What shared commitments do we have as citizens and neighbors to care for one another? How can a proper ordering of America’s political economy enable the most people to have the best life? At this event, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), a longtime champion of human rights causes, and AEI President Arthur Brooks will join Wallis in addressing these and other questions.

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