Obama Picks New Intelligence Chief

Welcome to the administration: President Obama has chosen James R. Clapper, a retired Air Force Lieutenant General, to be the next intelligence chief. He’s well-suited for the role: He currently works as the undersecretary of Defense for intelligence. Clapper was considered the early favorite for the post, though Obama apparently had some doubts about appointing a military man to the job, especially after members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence were cold to Clapper. In the Bush administration, Clapper unsuccesfully lobbied Donald Rumsfeld to create a new office that would oversee and coordinate between the four largest intelligence agencies.