President Barack Obama's nominee for director of national intelligence – the most senior U.S. intelligence position – pledged to Congress on Thursday that he would not support any surveillance activities that did not receive court approval. “I do not and will not support any surveillance activities that circumvent established processes without lawful authorization,” retired U.S. admiral Dennis Blair told lawmakers at his Senate confirmation hearing. Blair also told the Senate Intelligence Committee that he believes U.S. intelligence agencies should work with the Muslim world and countries including Iran on issues of mutual interest. “Identifying opportunities, as well as threats, is an extremely important balance for intelligence agencies to strike,” he said. “While the United States must hunt down those terrorists who are seeking to do us harm, the intelligence community also needs to support policymakers who are looking for opportunities to engage and work with influential Muslim leaders who believe (in) and are working for a progressive and peaceful future for their religion and their countries,” he said. On Iran, Blair said that “while policymakers need to understand anti-American leaders, policies and actions in Iran, the intelligence community can also help policymakers identify and understand other leaders and political forces, so that it is possible to work toward a future in both our interests.”
