"This is a dysfunctional agency and in some ways a rogue agency. This is the agency that gave the president of the United States – when he asked for information about weapons of mass destruction – said, 'It's a slam dunk.'"

The Arizona Republican accused disloyal elements within the CIA of working to undermine President Bush, complaining that they had engaged in "leaking information that could be damaging to the president prior to the election – using a compliant media, if I may say so."

McCain said that the CIA has also failed in its attempts to gather intelligence on North Korea and Iran, complaining that the U.S. knows little more about those two countries that it did 10 years ago.

Addressing reform efforts by Director Goss, McCain said he's "on the right track. He is being savaged by these people who want the status quo, and the status quo is not acceptable."

Editor's note: