Like a good spy, there isn’t much known about Gina Haspel. She’s a veteran intelligence officer, who joined the CIA more than 30 years ago. She was the agency’s first female deputy director. And she could soon be the first woman to run the CIA.
Haspel’s nomination to the post by President Trump will be challenged this week as she faces confirmation hearings. The toughest questions will undoubtedly be about her reported involvement in the torture of prisoners and her role in covering it up.
Haspel’s experience and the powerful contingent of support behind her mean that we’re likely watching history in the making. But what kind of CIA director would Gina Haspel make? And can she overcome the concerns raised about her past?
GUESTS
Jeremy Bash, Former chief-of-staff to Leon Panetta at the CIA and DOD; former chief counsel of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
Laura Pitter, Senior national security counsel, Human Rights Watch (US).@LauraPitter
Todd Rosenblum, Senior fellow, the Atlantic Council; adjunct professor, George Washington University. He’s served in positions at the Department of Homeland Security, the Pentagon, the State Department, and the CIA.@ToddRosenblum1
Shane Harris, Intelligence and national security reporter, The Washington Post; Future of War fellow, New America; author, “At War: The Rise of the Military-Internet Complex” and “The Watchers: The Rise of America’s Surveillance State”‘; @shaneharris
For more, visit https://the1a.org.
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