Washington, D.C.

Senate committee approves Goss for top job at CIA

A Senate panel on Tuesday approved the nomination of Rep. Porter Goss, R-Fla., to head the CIA, overcoming Democrats’ objections that Goss was too political for the job.

In a closed meeting, the Senate Intelligence Committee voted 12-4, with three Democrats joining the committee’s nine Republicans in approving the nomination and one Democrat making no recommendation.

The full Republican-led Senate scheduled a vote on Goss’ nomination for today.

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. voted against Goss, saying that while chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Goss had “repeatedly used intelligence issues for partisan purposes.”

Jerusalem

Israel to purchase bombs from U.S.

The United States will sell Israel nearly 5,000 smart bombs in one of the largest weapons deals between the allies in years, Israeli military officials said Tuesday on condition of anonymity.

Israel’s announcement came after the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible military sale to Israel worth as much as $319 million.

The agency said in a June 1 press release that the sale “will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.”