From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

John Brennan, the CIA, and national security.

Hello again, I'm Marvin Alney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International,

a daily look at the issues Americans care about most. John Brennan's one of the president's most trusted aides chosen to lead the CIA

at a time when its role is being subjected to serious questions. Should the agency continue

the use of drones for targeted killings? Will that lead to a deadly backlash? Is it even legal?

Should the CIA stick to spying?

John McCain and other senators want to know how actively Brennan opposed what they call torture

during the Bush administration. If he's confirmed, will his relationship with the president

give Brennan a degree of influence that former CIA directors could only dream of? On reporter's

notebook later on, this year's Academy Award nominees.

First, here's the news.

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Hello again, we're on All, back with To the Point.

John Brennan has been named to succeed David Petraeus as head of the CIA. Will the agency focus on gathering intelligence its original mission or continue launching drones for targeted killings?

Will Brennan's close relationship to the president enhance the CIA's role in the conduct of foreign policy?

We'll talk about that today. On reporter's notebook, Stephen Spielberg's Lincoln leads this year's Academy Award nominees.

Others include an actress who's nine years old and another who's 85. First, this news update.

Hugo Chavez was supposed to be sworn in today for a third term as

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