US senate votes to confirm Brennan as CIA chief

The US Senate voted 63 to 34 on Thursday to approve John Brennan as the next director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The confirmation vote followed vocal opposition from critics including Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, who filibustered the vote and demanded more answers from the administration of President Barack Obama on when unmanned drones can be used to target Americans suspected of being terrorists. "With the bipartisan confirmation of John Brennan as director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the Senate has recognized in John the qualities I value so much -- his determination to keep America safe, his commitment to working with Congress, his ability to build relationships with foreign partners and his fidelity to the values that define us as a nation," Obama said in a statement released by the White House. "With John's 25 years of experience at the agency, our extraordinary men and women of the CIA will be led by one of their own," the President said. "I am especially appreciative to Michael Morell for being such an outstanding acting director and for agreeing to continue his service as deputy director." "Timely, accurate intelligence is absolutely critical to disrupting terrorist attacks, dismantling al Qaeda and its affiliates and meeting the broad array of security challenges that we face as a nation," Obama said. "John's leadership, and our dedicated intelligence professionals, will be essential in these efforts."