Mon 5 Jan 2009
More change on the way. Not!
Barack Obama has just named Leon Panetta as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Leon Panetta is the former Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton.
Still waiting for official cabinet positions in the Obama Administration are Donna Shalala, Robert Reich, and Paul Rubin.
January 5th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Methinks that’s an interesting choice….. he picks a guy with no intelligence experience whatsoever to head… the Central INTELLIGENCE agency?
January 5th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
You’re right! Obama is a hypocrite. Promising change and taping highly skilled leaders that happened to serve previously. If only he’d followed W’s lead and chosen a completely fresh team. Oh wait…
January 5th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Maybe he’ll earn a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Would you go to a heart surgeon who has never performed surgery, just as long as he’s skilled in auto maintenance? Hey, he’s a “highly skilled” leader, isn’t he?
Lemme know how that goes…
January 6th, 2009 at 7:08 am
THE PANETTA APPOINTMENT PROVES THAT OBAMA IS INTENT ON DISMANTELING OUR ALREADY SHAKEY INTELLIGENCE INFRASTRUCTURE. WHO COULD YOU APPOINT A LONG TIME POLITICAL HACK LIKE PANETTA TO RUN THE CIA WHEN ALL OF OUR LIVES CAN DEPEND ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE AGENCY. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE MORALE OF THE PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK THERE AND DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO OUR PROTECTION?
January 6th, 2009 at 9:04 am
Let’s hope Mr. Ash is correct and this leads to the dismantleling of the CIA and the rest of the intelligence structure.
January 6th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
As a retired Navy Senior Chief Intelligence Specialist with 22 years work in national intelligence, this is not a choice I support. Bringing someone who “business” background to the CIA during a time of war does not make good sense – if Pres. Elect Obama was appointing him to Commerce – great. The CIA needs competent leadership that understands not only the value of intelligence, but has a grasp on the issues facing the analysts and operators who develop the means and methods that produces intelligence products. The history example that comes to mind was bringing Robert McNamara to be Secretary of Defense – that worked real well.