Intel Nominee James Clapper Clears Senate Hurdle

(AP)  President Barack Obama's nominee to be chief of U.S. intelligence, James R. Clapper, was unanimously approved Thursday by the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Clapper's nomination now goes to the full Senate, where his confirmation may face delays from some Republican lawmakers unhappy with House Democrats' handling of an intelligence authorization bill.

The director of national intelligence oversees the 16 U.S. spy agencies.

Obama nominated Clapper, a retired Air Force lieutenant general who has served as the Defense Department's chief intelligence official, to succeed retired Adm. Dennis Blair. The third U.S. intelligence chief, Blair stepped down under pressure after clashing with other intelligence officials.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat and the committee's chairwoman, said she "initially had reservations" about Clapper, but that her doubts were "overcome by his experience and leadership ability."

Feinstein had questioned whether a nominee who had spent so much time at the Pentagon - as a general and then heading the Defense Intelligence Agency and the National Geospatial Agency - could represent mostly civilian intelligence services.

Clapper also won over his other top critic, Sen. Kit Bond, the panel's senior Republican, in a closed door session Wednesday. Bond said Clapper "assured me that he does not intend to be a (car) hood ornament."

Bond was referring to the fact the director of national intelligence - created by Congress in 2004 - has limited funding and executive powers, which has hamstrung the previous directors' authority.

Clapper has pledged to work with Congress to clarify and even expand that the director's authority, although he insists the process will not require new legislation, but rather careful interpretation of the existing law. Clapper also said he will have a cordial relationship with CIA Director Leon Panetta, who had sparred with Blair in turf wars.

The retired general's confirmation may still face opposition from Republican lawmakers who blame the White House for the continuing delay in passing last year's intelligence act. The bill passed the Senate but has languished in the House, specifically in the office of its leader, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat.