Gen. Michael Hayden told senators Thursday that he would determine what the American public needs to know and what will remain secret if he is confirmed to take the reins of the embattled Central Intelligence Agency.

Before his confirmation hearing wrapped up for the day, Bush's pick to head the CIA took aim at the media, politicians and recent leaks emanating from the CIA and National Security Agency.

"True accountability is not served by inaccurate, harmful and illegal public disclosures," the 61-year-old Air Force general said. "I will draw a clear line between what we owe the American public by way of openness and what must remain secret in order for us to continue to do our jobs." (Watch Hayden say why it's time to move on -- :40)

Saying U.S. intelligence has become "the football in American political discourse," Hayden staunchly defended the NSA domestic eavesdropping program and said that if it had been in place before the attacks of September 11, 2001, authorities would have caught two of the 19 hijackers: Khalid Almihdhar and Nawaf Alhazmi.

"The NSA would have raised its hand and said, 'Hey, these guys are in San Diego,' " he said.

Hayden serves as deputy to National Intelligence Director John Negroponte and was NSA director when President Bush authorized the program in October 2001.

He oversaw the classified program that involved the agency monitoring -- without obtaining court warrants -- phone calls, e-mails and other communications of people inside the United States with people overseas when at least one of the parties is a terrorism suspect.