Intelligence

The Central Intelligence Agency has picked a new top spy, tapping an undercover veteran who  played a central role in developing personal relationships with Afghan leaders after the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.

He remains undercover and is known within the agency as “Spider,” a U.S. official said. His new role will be director of the National Clandestine Service, a position that effectively makes him responsible for all of the agency’s spying activities.

Spider’s reputation within the agency is something of legend. He survived an 2001 accidental U.S. bombing attack while meeting with Hamid Karzai, helped launch attacks against al Qaeda and the Taliban in 2002, and accompanied Mr. Karzai, who by then had become Afghanistan’s president, to a White House meeting in 2010.

CIA Picks Undercover Veteran ‘Spider’ as Spy Chief