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Former CIA covert operations officer Mike Baker on Obama's picks for Defense Secretary and CIA director.
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-- while later today President Obama expects to dominate chuck they got to be the next Defense Secretary the confirmation of hagel.
Shaping up to be up they'll quite a fight in congress we have Mike Baker with us now former CIA.
-- operations officer president of the firm diligence LLC global intelligence security firm.
Always good to have you Mike and the other announced that it it will be that John Brennan and they president's current.
Our top advisor on counterterrorism be nominated to run the the CIA -- -- your CIA guy for years we know about Brennan.
Well you know it's it's interesting because it's all -- all the time right now -- nobody's talking about the other.
Nomination and -- and that's because it's it's as close as you get in Washington DC to wait a safe bet.
John Brennan had a lot of experience with in the CIA and then around the Intel community and he's.
-- -- the very good relationship with Obama and the White House over the past few years so.
And you know and a sense.
They're choosing the the safe.
Road because I think they understand they're in for a bit of a battle papal.
Right and even this if they also said that not a nominated Brennan in the past but then I guess the enhanced interrogation techniques came up and all this -- wanna go through it.
But apparently now they're OK going through it do you think that'll be that can hold it up smaller.
Well I you know I don't think sought an aggregate it in the sense it's a passage of time.
I think he probably would have gotten the nod before but I think they just assessment was a little bit too close.
In terms of the time now you know you've had this bizarre.
-- story there's been brought up as a result of the release of that film zero dark thirty so that enhanced interrogations is kind of resurfaced.
Again but it's a bit of an inane.
Issue that did the senators say in the Intel community don't -- don't seem to understand that this is a Hollywood film.
You know -- what you think of the -- by actually sought over the weekend.
Zero dark thirty did you see it and if so what did you think about it going to be and have -- I don't.
It's it's good entertainment I mean Hollywood does what Hollywood does you know -- -- enhance realities -- May.
You know they make some choices in terms of writing a script -- -- still don't lots of people down into one character and and so they've got a strong lead.
But you I was it's it's good entertainment that the -- part of -- -- that again is that the senators.
Seemed to be mistaking entertainment for reality and -- the going after the CIA yet again to say you know.
What this film is depicting -- that doesn't match our perception because they think report.
A 100% accurate this show people in your business do a lot of important hard work and spent a long time doing and his son in some cases as -- was in the in the it absolutely is quick thought on take advantage as you said that's the more controversial appointment that nor announcement that we're gonna get today what do you make it -- Yeah -- this is the one that's gonna cause -- some trouble I think ultimately he's going to be.
Is going to be put through but it's its strange for me it's an odd choice because in part.
You know running the Department of Defense is nothing if not -- a massive exercise in in managing a bureaucracy.
And as far as I can tell and maybe I'm I'm wrong here -- I don't I don't see any management experience in -- background.
You know the statement -- made in the past about Israel and Iran those will come back and and will be a matter questioning.
During the course of the nominating process but I I ultimately I think he's going to get there which -- strange that they would choose someone who.
That I -- believe they understand it's going to be a battle and they got other battles to fight at a far more important.
And I think they probably have other candidates they could have chosen who would -- a better fit for the deal dates if he's able to run now they're able to get through here.
Alright Michael is -- to talk to Mike Baker with us today forever secret -- -- he's an undisclosed location it looks like that but thanks for coming on my back.
