WASHINGTON — For nearly an hour Thursday, President-elect Barack Obama met with two of the country’s top intelligence officers for an important rite of passage: his first full-blown, classified briefing on national security.
But at least one topic that loomed heavily over the discussions was reportedly never broached: Whom would Obama pick to advise him on the nation’s most sensitive intelligence secrets?
The Obama camp has offered no hints of how it plans to fill top intelligence posts, including the positions of director of national intelligence, now held by John M. “Mike” McConnell, and CIA director, held by Mi chael V. Hayden.
Unlike the FBI director, those top posts do not come with a set term. The White House has broader discretion in filling intelligence posts and can elect to keep the current leadership in place. Many former intelligence officials interviewed said they believed that Obama would prefer a fresh start, but some speculated that he may keep a few top officials in place to preserve continuity.
