Brennan To Be Obama Counterterrorism Advisor
This story was written by CBS News correspondent Bob Orr
An intelligence source confirms to CBS News' Bob Orr that veteran CIA official John Brennan has been selected by President-Elect Obama to be the new Administration's top counterterrorism adviser.
Brennan, who has led Obama's intelligence-transition team, was originally a leading candidate to head the CIA, but withdrew his name from consideration after critics accused him of supporting the Bush Administration's harsh interrogation techniques.
Brennan also served as the first director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) and will be part of Obama's National Security Council and will be the point man for all counterterrorism issues.
The Associated Press reports that Obama "is laying plans to dissolve a White House security panel created in the wake of 9/11 and restructure counterterrorism policy under intelligence veteran John Brennan. The White House Homeland Security Council will remain for a few weeks at least, until Obama finishes a review of its mission, an official close to the incoming administration said Thursday."