Gina Haspel, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the CIA, presents herself well. In her testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, she comes across as sober, dedicated and knowledgeable. Those qualities were not in doubt, however. The more nettlesome questions about her past conduct remain only partially answered.
On the positive side, she confirmed over and over that the CIA would not restart the detention and interrogation program. In various ways she indicated the CIA was not in the business of interrogation, did not have interrogators and would not resume those practices. (“Having served in that tumultuous time, I can offer you my personal commitment, clearly and without reservation, that under my leadership, on my watch, CIA will not restart such a detention and interrogation program.