    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book II)]
    [August 10, 2004]
    [Pages 1564-1566]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Announcing the Nomination of Porter J. Goss To Be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
    August 10, 2004

        The President. Thank you all for coming. I'm pleased to announce my
    decision to nominate Congressman Porter Goss as the next Director of the
    Central Intelligence Agency. Porter Goss is a leader with strong
    experience in intelligence and in the fight

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    against terrorism. He knows the CIA inside and out. He's the right man
    to lead this important agency at this critical moment in our Nation's
    history.
        The work of the CIA is vital to our security. America faces
    determined enemies who plan in many nations, send trained killers to
    live among us, and attack without warning. This threat is unprecedented,
    and to stop them from killing our citizens, we must have the best
    intelligence possible. The men and women of the CIA must penetrate
    closed societies and secretive organizations. They must overcome
    challenges of language and culture and learn things that our adversaries
    don't want us to know. Because their work is secret, the men and women
    of the CIA receive little recognition, but they're protecting our
    country every day.
        Since September the 11th, our intelligence professionals have worked
    with great determination to stop another attack on America, and our
    country is grateful.
        Director George Tenet and acting
    Director John McLaughlin have served our
    Nation with distinction and honor. And now, with the agreement of the
    U.S. Senate, the CIA will have another strong leader in Porter Goss.
        I've given Porter an essential mission to lead the Agency for the
    challenges and threats of a dangerous new century. He is well prepared
    for this mission. Porter Goss brings a broad experience to this critical
    job. He's a former Army intelligence officer with a decade of experience
    in the CIA's clandestine service. He knows the agency, and he knows what
    is needed to strengthen it. He understands the importance of human
    intelligence. He was a CIA field officer on two continents. He'll make
    sure that the men and women of the CIA have the capabilities and skills
    they need to penetrate the hard targets and denied areas and to get to
    know the enemy firsthand. He also knows the importance of investing in
    technologies that allow us to look and listen better. And he will work
    to ensure the agency remains on the cutting edge of technological
    change.
        As Chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence since
    1997, and as a Member on the Commission on the Roles and Capabilities of
    the United States Intelligence Community, he has been a leading voice on
    intelligence and national security and terrorism. He's been a force for
    positive change. His experience on Capitol Hill will serve him well at
    the CIA, because he's respected on both sides of the aisle and because
    he understands the important role Congress must play in the effort to
    improve our Nation's intelligence capabilities.
        Over 15 years of service, Porter Goss has built a reputation as a
    reformer. He'll be a reformer at the Central Intelligence Agency. I look
    forward to his counsel and his judgments as to how best to implement
    broader intel reform, including the recommendations of the 9/11
    Commission.
        I appreciate your many years, Porter, of service to our country. I
    appreciate your willingness to serve. I'm grateful that you've agreed to
    step forward and serve once again. Welcome.

    [At this point, Director-designate Goss made brief remarks.]

        The President. Good job. Thank you, sir.
        Director-designate Goss. Thank you, sir.

    Note: The President spoke at 8:31 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to the Commission on Terrorist
    Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission). The transcript
    released by the Office of the Press Secretary also included the remarks
    of Director-designate Goss. The Office of the Press Secretary also
    released a Spanish language transcript of these remarks.

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