ARTICLE: “CIA Chief Goss Abruptly Resigns: Surprise Exit Follows Time Of Scandal, Influence Drop, Adds to Bush Team Shakeup,” by Christopher Cooper, Scot J. Paltrow and Robert Block, Wall Street Journal, 6-7 May 2005, p. A4.

ARTICLE: “Concern voiced over CIA choice: Hayden’s military ties seen as hurdle,” by John Diamond and David Jackson, USA Today, 8 May 2006, p. 1A.

ARTICLE: “Hayden admired for directness, but resume has holes: Lacks experience working with Mideast issues, spies in field,” by John Diamond, USA Today, 8 May 2006, p. 5A.

I never thought Goss would be much of a DCI. Choosing him reminded me too much of Aspin moving from his House committee to become SECDEF: in general, I think legislators who become department heads do badly--they’re just not CEO material. Plus they bring all their staffers and they usually piss off all the locals from the get-go, assuring a non-record of success.

Boy, his legacy will certainly be near-zero. His entire time he was overshadowed by the DNI creation and Negroponte and his agency’s own string of scandals and leaks. Chalk up his meaningless reign to Iraq, I guess.

As for picking Hayden, it’s a tone-deaf pick, given the recent tumult over the listening program at NSA plus he’s military. Too bad, because he’s a very sharp guy who’d actually probably do a great job--if allowed. I don’t think the lack of Mideast focus or experience handling spies matters much. His time at NSA was good, and CIA needs a good bureaucratic operator right now more than anything else.