Nation IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Independent CIA Watchdog Backed

The Senate approved legislation to create an independent inspector general for the CIA who would be nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. At present, the inspector general is appointed by the CIA director and reports only to him. The measure is a reaction to the impression that the agency watchdog may not have been aggressive enough in ferreting out the CIA’s role in the Iran-Contra scandal. The bill to which the legislation is attached was passed on a voice vote. President Bush is strongly opposed to both the Senate measure and a different House-passed version and has threatened a veto.