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Trump's pick Haspel sworn in as first woman to lead CIA

US President Donald Trump attends Gina Haspel's swearing-in as CIA director
US President Donald Trump attends Gina Haspel's swearing-in as CIA director
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Washington (dpa) - Gina Haspel called for the expansion of overseasdeployment of agents as she became the first woman to lead the UnitedStates Central Intelligence Agency during a swearing-in on Monday.


She said the CIA must increase its foreign language proficiency,strengthen overseas partnerships and deploy "more of our officers tothe foreign field."


"We are a foreign intelligence service, and our workforce and ourpriorities need to reflect that," Haspel said.


The Senate voted 54-45 last week to confirm President Donald Trump'snomination of Haspel, a 33-year veteran of the intelligence agencywith a long career as an agent and supervisor in the CIA'sclandestine operations.


She replaces Mike Pompeo, who is now secretary of state. Haspel wasdeputy director under Pompeo and interim director since last month.


"I would not be standing before you today if not for the remarkablecourage and dedication displayed by generations of [CIA women] whochallenged stereotypes, broke down barriers and opened doors for therest of us," Haspel told agency employees.


Trump, Pompeo and Vice President Mike Pence participated in theceremony.


Haspel faced sharp questioning during her confirmation process overbrutal interrogation methods adopted by the CIA following theSeptember 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.


"With the benefit of hindsight and my experience as a senior agencyleader, the enhanced interrogation programme is not one the CIAshould have undertaken," she said in a letter to the SenateIntelligence Committee.


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