Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Sunday voiced his support for James Clapper’s nomination to be the next director of national intelligence. “I think the President could not have found a better person, a more experienced person or [one] with a better temperament to do this job and actually make it work, than Jim Clapper,” said Gates, who commented while en route to Azerbaijan. Clapper’s temperament will allow him to develop “constructive, positive chemistry” with leaders of the intelligence community, a crucial aspect of this job, said Gates. But not everyone was happy about the nomination. Sen. Kit Bond, (R-Mo.), vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, charged that Clapper “lacks the necessary clout with the President, has proven to be less than forthcoming with Congress, and has recently blocked [Congressional] efforts to empower the DNI.” Accordingly, Bond says he’s “not inclined to support” Clapper’s nomination. (See Clapper Tapped for Top Intel Post above.) (Gates comments) (Bond statement)
Members of the House Armed Services Committee say the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile program has been set back three months due to the ongoing government shutdown. The comment is noteworthy because the JATM's status has been kept tightly under wraps.
