Primacy of CIA station chiefs confirmed, ending interagency row

Excerpt:

Panetta and former CIA director Michael V. Hayden balked at the idea that someone other than a top CIA official could be considered the senior U.S. intelligence representative in a country. They argued that it could confuse foreign leaders and their intelligence agencies, with whom the CIA station chiefs interact regularly. Introducing another, non-CIA intelligence officer could disrupt the normal chain of command in an embassy where the CIA station chief also coordinates all clandestine and covert actions in the country, they said.

Read more