US Senate Intelligence Committee Approves William Burns To Lead CIA

JAKARTA - The US Senate Intelligence Committee unanimously confirmed veteran diplomat William Burns, to become Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

This was disclosed by the Chairman of the United States Senate Intelligence Committee (US) Mark Warner. The former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador to Russia was appointed by President Joe Biden.

"The enormous bipartisanship vote in favor of Burns, is evidence of the unquestioned qualification of the candidate for the role. Long experience in national security matters, and a laudable commitment to public service", Warner said in a statement.

Warner said he hopes the US Senate can quickly confirm William Burns without undue delay.

At a confirmation hearing last month, Burns said he saw competition with China and countering enemy leadership as key to US national security.

Burns said if he were a president of a US college or university, he would recommend closing the Confucius Institute - a Beijing-funded campus cultural center that many members of Congress see as a propaganda tool.

William Burns also described a number of threats that the United States continues to be familiar with, such as from Russia, North Korea and Iran. He also said climate change, global health problems and cyber threats pose serious risks.

Among the issues related to Russia, Burns and other intelligence chiefs are expected to immediately tackle investigations into recent hacking attacks against US Government, private and local government data networks.

A US official said Biden's Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines, who was confirmed by the Senate in January, would lead an extensive review of intelligence issues facing US agencies.

This includes what role the Russian leadership played in hacking SolarWinds against US targets, and in allegedly agreeing to Russian aid for Taliban fighters killing American and allied forces in Afghanistan.