President Barack Obama's plan to install his counterterrorism adviser as head of the CIA has opened the administration to new scrutiny over the targeted-killing policies it has fought to keep hidden from the public, as well as the existence of a previously secret drone base in Saudi Arabia.
The administration's refusal to provide details about one of the most controversial aspects of its drone campaign — strikes on U.S. citizens abroad — has emerged as a potential source of opposition to CIA nominee John Brennan, who faces a Senate confirmation hearing Thursday.
The secrecy surrounding that policy was punctured Monday with the disclosure of a Justice Department "white paper" that spells out the administration's case for killing Americans accused of being al-Qaida operatives.