The man nominated to be the next US director of national intelligence has defended the role of private contractors in the intelligence community.
Retired Air Force General James Clapper was speaking in the wake of a series of articles in The Washington Post which have revealed the extent of involvement of the private sector in the US government's top secret programmes.
There are also concerns over former spy chiefs working for the private contractors after leaving public office.
Roger Wilkison reports. (July 21, 2010)
