Nominated CIA chief: In quotes

Michael Hayden reacts to his nomination

Michael Hayden said he would be honoured to work with the CIA

The nomination of Air Force General Michael Hayden as the new head of the CIA has brought a mixed reaction in the United States.

Few doubt his qualifications, but many are concerned about putting a military man atop the civilian agency.

GEORGE W BUSH

He has demonstrated an ability to adapt our intelligence services to the new challenges of the war on terror. He's the right man to lead the CIA at this critical moment in our nation's history.

STANSFIELD TURNER, ex CIA director

I think Mike Hayden is extremely well qualified for the job, but there is this big question mark over the legality of the wiretapping that was done under his supervision. I happen to think it was illegal.

PETER HOEKSTRA, House Intelligence Committee chair

By placing a military officer atop the CIA... we risk losing the critical, civilian intelligence analysis that policymakers need when making foreign policy decisions.

JOHN NEGROPONTE, National Intelligence Director

Mike has both the breadth and depth of qualifications that are required. [He is] a very, very independent-minded person, blunt spoken, who I don't think will have any difficulty whatsoever staking out positions that are independent and responsive to the needs of our civilian intelligence community.

SUSAN COLLINS, Sen Homeland Security and Govt Affairs chair

To send a signal of independence from the Pentagon, Gen Hayden may want to consider retiring from the Air Force. That would put to rest questions about whether an active duty military officer should lead the CIA at this time.

MICHAEL HAYDEN

To the men and women of the Central Intelligence Agency: If I'm confirmed, I would be honoured to join you and work with so many good friends. Your achievements are frequently underappreciated and hidden from the public eye, but you know what you do to protect the republic.

MILTON BEARDEN, Former CIA station chief

What is an issue is the struggle right now between the Pentagon, which has about 80% of the intelligence resources, and the CIA, plus a looming challenge between the director of national intelligence, this newly created DNI [Director of National Intelligence], and the Pentagon and the CIA.

So what I'm suggesting is that we've got maybe three revolutions inside a larger revolution in American intelligence.

RAY MCGOVERN, Former CIA analyst

I'm worried about Gen Hayden because he violated his oath to support the constitution of the United States [in authorising the eavesdropping programme]. He's a practiser of conduct unbecoming a general officer by refusing to stand up and say: "Mr President, I won't do that because there's a law against it."