Retired Af General Next Cia Chief?

President Clinton has settled on Michael C. P. Carns, a retired Air Force general, to head the Central Intelligence Agency, administration officials said Monday.

An official familiar with the lengthy search for a replacement for R. James Woolsey is going through the “final steps” before formally announcing Carns as Clinton’s nominee to the post of director of central intelligence.

Carns, who retired last year, served as vice chief of staff of the Air Force.