Panetta to Defense, Patreus to CIA

**noahath** · 04-28-2011

My biggest concern about this move is that it puts military men in charge of the country's two largest intelligence agencies: NSA (which is required) and CIA (which is not). I think that's a dangerous move in itself.

**States Rights** · 04-28-2011

Originally Posted by noahath

My biggest concern about this move is that it puts military men in charge of the country's two largest intelligence agencies: NSA (which is required) and CIA (which is not). I think that's a dangerous move in itself.

I would rather have an non-political military person in charge rather than a political appointee that will make decisions based on their political future. Of course this does not say that military leaders are not making decisions based on political grounds. There have been way too many officers in the military that look at their military future based on political reasoning. But the majority of civilian appointees are looking out for their own future and make or in some cases do not make decisions because it could influence their own careers in a negative manner. "Tell them what they want to hear, not the truth:"

**noahath** · 04-28-2011

Originally Posted by States Rights

I would rather have an non-political military person in charge rather than a political appointee that will make decisions based on their political future. Of course this does not say that military leaders are not making decisions based on political grounds. There have been way too many officers in the military that look at their military future based on political reasoning. But the majority of civilian appointees are looking out for their own future and make or in some cases do not make decisions because it could influence their own careers in a negative manner. "Tell them what they want to hear, not the truth:"

In some respects then maybe the entire process needs to be reviewed. The very nature of the appointment process (ie senate confirmation) means that the position is political. I have no problem with it remaining appointed in this way, but maybe it should be more like the Fed Chair, FBI, etc where the appointment is for a set, multi-year period, which then straddles administrations and assists in removing the political nature of the role. It would also provide some real stability to these organisatins that need leadership, instead of changing directors on average every 2 years.

**soot** · 04-29-2011

Originally Posted by MattInFla

I'm still wondering where MoveOn.org's "outrage" is.

They have no time for little fish like the President of the United States.

There are evil corporations that demand their protesting!

Last I saw their name come up they were pestering GE over tax-related issues.

**Jason Marcel** · 05-03-2011

Originally Posted by Bearman

Why? What has he done at the CIA to instill faith in anyone that he'd be competent at DoD? Cent-com, with Gen. Petraeus in charge has been developing all the good intel, not the spooks.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama plans to name CIA Director Leon Panetta as the next secretary of defense and move Gen. David Petraeus, now running the war in Afghanistan, into the CIA chief's job in a major shuffle of the U.S. national security leadership, senior administration officials and other sources said Wednesday.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates will retire on June 30 with Panetta taking over in July. Gates told senior staff that he recommended Panetta as his replacement six months ago.

Gates described his plans ahead of a White House announcement, expected Thursday, that Panetta would be the president's choice to replace Gates.

WTOP.com - Obama sending Panetta to Pentagon, Petraeus to CIA

He can put "killed Osama Bin Laden" on his resume, and that's why all this happened.

Amazing week in American politics and history. First the President releases his long form birth certificate and testily goes before the nation and says, "We've got better things to do than deal with this silliness; I've got better things to do".

The very next day he makes these two moves, which is incidentally the very day he gives the go ahead on the Bin Laden mission.

Panetta to DoD is a great move, and I always liked Patreus, and we can now look at these moves as foreshadowing the events over the weekend in Pakistan and the killing of Gadaffi's son.