Obama picks Leon Panetta to head CIA

Mon Jan 5, 2009 2:46 PM EST
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WASHINGTON — Two Democratic officials say President-elect Barack Obama has chosen former Clinton White House chief of staff Leon Panetta to run the CIA. Panetta was a surprise pick for the post, with no experience in the intelligence world. An Obama transition official and another Democrat disclosed his nomination on a condition of anonymity since it was not yet public.

Panetta was director of the Office of Management and Budget and a longtime congressman from California.

He served on the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan panel that released a report at the end of 2006 with dozens of recommendations for the reversing course in the Iraq war.

Panetta currently directs with his wife Sylvia the Leon & Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy, based at California State University, Monterey Bay a university he helped establish on the site of the former U.S. Army base, Fort Ord.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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{"commentId":4698571,"authorDomain":"lindawallace"}
retiree-736578

Anyone else notice that Leon Panetta is 70 years old?  An old man with no intelligence experience will makes us look even weaker.

{"commentId":4698571,"threadId":"461281","contentId":"2276347","authorDomain":"lindawallace"}
  • 5 votes
Reply#51 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 10:03 AM EST
{"commentId":4700271,"authorDomain":"lkessler41"}
Lkessler

Hey, I refuse to kick a man when he's down...

{"commentId":4700271,"threadId":"461281","contentId":"2276347","authorDomain":"lkessler41"}
  • 4 votes
#51.1 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 11:39 AM EST
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{"commentId":4702315,"authorDomain":"jscusmc69"}
jscusmc69

Panetta= Army UN-Intelligence-----EVERY Vietnam Vet I know Knows that there WAS a gross LACK of INTEL. Come back from a LRRP drop the skinny on what you saw and NEVER was believed--Statements were They couldn't possibly be there --That unit--VC/NVA don't exist--I could go on ABOUT this saw it FIRST hand. 

Panetta never was in the field prob would have stained his shorts if he had been-yup 2yrs as Intel Officer makes him real smart.

My Dad fought D-Day+1(707 tank Bn.) to the Battle of the Bulge 17Dec1944 and said THEY had better Intel than I did.

{"commentId":4702315,"threadId":"461281","contentId":"2276347","authorDomain":"jscusmc69"}
  • 4 votes
Reply#52 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 1:31 PM EST
{"commentId":4724447,"authorDomain":"jolumidao"}
Grace-580101

He will be confirmed if he passed the Senate Intelligence Committee's tough questioning. The confirmation panel will decide if he is the right choice for the job.

{"commentId":4724447,"threadId":"461281","contentId":"2276347","authorDomain":"jolumidao"}
    Reply#53 - Thu Jan 8, 2009 8:56 PM EST
    {"commentId":4724748,"authorDomain":"ElliePhat"}
    ElliePhat

    Good point, Grace.  I suppose one political question is whether the confirmation panel will press him or defer to the new democrat president and go easy on him?

    {"commentId":4724748,"threadId":"461281","contentId":"2276347","authorDomain":"ElliePhat"}
    • 2 votes
    #53.1 - Thu Jan 8, 2009 9:24 PM EST
    {"commentId":4726123,"authorDomain":"a0ted"}
    determined0a1

    We all know that Panetta will be confirmed and.......congratulations Mr. C.I.A.

    {"commentId":4726123,"threadId":"461281","contentId":"2276347","authorDomain":"a0ted"}
      #53.2 - Thu Jan 8, 2009 11:48 PM EST
      Reply
      {"commentId":4724757,"authorDomain":"jolumidao"}
      Grace-580101

      There are more qualified intelligence personnel who will be up for the job if they accept more recommendation but Leon Panetta is the Pres. Obama's pick. Let them vote if they object the nomination.

      {"commentId":4724757,"threadId":"461281","contentId":"2276347","authorDomain":"jolumidao"}
        Reply#54 - Thu Jan 8, 2009 9:25 PM EST
        {"commentId":4724996,"authorDomain":"jolumidao"}
        Grace-580101

        ElliePhat- I am sure the Committee will be easy on him. It is always a political drama.

        {"commentId":4724996,"threadId":"461281","contentId":"2276347","authorDomain":"jolumidao"}
        • 2 votes
        Reply#55 - Thu Jan 8, 2009 9:47 PM EST
        {"commentId":4728407,"authorDomain":"jolumidao"}
        Grace-580101

        Elaine, you are right. We shall see!

        {"commentId":4728407,"threadId":"461281","contentId":"2276347","authorDomain":"jolumidao"}
        • 2 votes
        Reply#56 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 8:08 AM EST
        {"commentId":4731073,"authorDomain":"ElliePhat"}
        ElliePhat

        Grace,

        Technical point...if you'll click the "reply" comment box just below a poster's comment, your response will be attached to theirs, keeping the threads together.  Hope it helps. :)

        {"commentId":4731073,"threadId":"461281","contentId":"2276347","authorDomain":"ElliePhat"}
        • 3 votes
        #56.1 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 11:07 AM EST
        Reply
        {"commentId":4745826,"authorDomain":"jhavok"}
        jimmy havok-596667Deleted
        {"commentId":4764424,"authorDomain":"kenny75069"}
        kenny75069

        I love it when people try to say things are a good idea, when they have no clue.

        {"commentId":4764424,"threadId":"461281","contentId":"2276347","authorDomain":"kenny75069"}
          Reply#58 - Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:05 PM EST
          {"commentId":4770872,"authorDomain":"jscusmc69"}
          jscusmc69

          Hey determined0a1---24 was GREAT tonight--ALL the under table deals (clinto) murders(clinto again) deception(clinto again) GPD looks JUST like DC YNDER CLITOON--AND "HEREEESSSSS BO(ZO) AND HIS CIRCUS"   Monday nights going to be good to!

          SCARY though as IF you just close youe eyes YOU can see OUR government--THE HIDDEN one---at work!!

          By the way Cap real good article on Harry Reid!!

          {"commentId":4770872,"threadId":"461281","contentId":"2276347","authorDomain":"jscusmc69"}
          • 1 vote
          Reply#59 - Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:47 AM EST
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