Op-ed by Elisa Massimino.
John Brennan has said that in the struggle against terrorism, the United States must stay true to its ideals. Members of the Senate Intelligence Committee should make sure this isn’t just rhetoric but a principle that will guide him as director of the CIA.
Some of the positions he’s taken as President Obama’s counterterrorism adviser—favoring the closing of the Guantanamo Bay prison, for example—demonstrate a respect for the rule of law, and supporters of human rights in the administration view him as an ally. But he has made comments that raise concerns. Senators need to ask him probing questions and press him to be specific. His answers will reveal whether he’s the right person to lead the CIA.
