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WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama's decision to fill the nation's top intelligence jobs with two men short on direct experience in intelligence gathering surprised the spy community and signaled the Democrat's intention for a clean break from Bush administration policies.
Former Clinton White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, an eight-term congressional veteran and administrative expert, is being tapped to head the CIA. Retired Adm. Dennis Blair is Obama's choice to be director of national intelligence, a selection expected for weeks, according to two Democrats who spoke on condition of anonymity because Obama has not officially announced the choices.
The Obama transition team's long delay in selecting CIA and national intelligence directors is a reflection of the complicated demands of the jobs and Obama's own policies and priorities.
Obama is sending an unequivocal message that controversial administration policies approving harsh interrogations, waterboarding and extraordinary renditions — the secret transfer of prisoners to other governments with a history of torture — and warrantless wiretapping are over, said several officials.
The search for Obama's new CIA chief had been stalled since November, when John Brennan, Obama's transition intelligence adviser, abruptly withdrew his name from consideration. Brennan said his potential nomination had sparked outrage among civil rights and human rights groups, who argued that he had not been outspoken enough in his condemnation of President George W. Bush's policies.
And despite an internal list of former and current CIA officials who had impressive administrative credentials, all either worked in intelligence during the Bush administration's development of controversial policies on interrogation and torture or earlier, during the months leading up to the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
Neither Panetta nor Blair are tainted by associations with Bush administration policies, in large part because they both come from outside the intelligence world. Blair was posted at the CIA for about a year.
Panetta could face tough questions at his nomination hearing about his background in intelligence. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who will chair the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Monday she was surprised by the pick, and neither was informed nor consulted.
"I know nothing about this, other than what I've read," she said. "My position has consistently been that I believe the agency is best served by having an intelligence professional in charge at this time."
A former senior CIA official who advises Obama defended the surprise choice of Panetta, who has no direct intelligence experience beyond a two-year stint in the mid-1960s as a U.S. Army lieutenant. The official said Panetta had been a consumer of CIA intelligence when he was at the White House. He said he was selected for his administrative, management and political skills which will allow him both to control and advocate for the agency.
He said Panetta will rely on the expertise of CIA officers to balance his lack of personal intelligence experience.
Veterans of the CIA were caught off guard by the selection.
"I'm at a loss," said Robert Grenier, a former director of the CIA's counterterrorism center and 27-year veteran of the agency who now is managing director of Kroll, a security consulting company.
The lack of intelligence experience puts Panetta at "a tremendous disadvantage," Grenier told The Associated Press in an interview.
"Intelligence by its very nature is an esoteric world. And right now the agency is confronted with numerous pressing challenges overseas, and to have no background is a serious deficit. I don't say that he can't succeed. It may that he can compensate for the obvious deficit."
John Hamre, the president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, served with Panetta during the Clinton administration. He said Panetta's experience as a former Cabinet member will help elevate the CIA's status inside the White House. The CIA director was once the president's main intelligence adviser. That role shifted in 2004 to the newly created national intelligence director.
Obama "has drawn a former Cabinet-level official to take a sub-Cabinet position, which means for a much more powerful CIA in the constellation of intelligence agencies," Hamre said.
Panetta was director of the Office of Management and Budget and a longtime congressman from California. As White House Chief of Staff during the Clinton administration, he spearheaded the internal effort to find a new CIA chief that led to the selection of John Deutsch in 1995. Deutsch served for 18 months. After he resigned, CIA security officers found classified material on his home computer, a violation of security procedures.
Panetta also served on the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan panel that released a report at the end of 2006 with dozens of recommendations for reversing course in the war.
With his wife, Sylvia, Panetta directs the Leon & Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy, based at California State University, Monterey Bay. The university that he helped establish is on the site of the former U.S. Army base at Fort Ord. Panetta also served for two years on a review board that helped oversee two major reports on the history of sex abuse in U.S. Catholic dioceses.
Obama's selection of Blair, a former U.S. Pacific Command chief, had been expected.
Blair served in the Navy for 34 years and was chief of the U.S. Pacific Command during the Sept. 11 attacks. Blair also is a China expert, and he was an associate director for military support at the CIA.
Blair and Panetta would replace retired Adm. Mike McConnell and former Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden, respectively. Both men had said they would stay in their positions if asked.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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- Pamela Hess's Column, All of Newsvine
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- Regions: United States , Iraq , China , Washington DC
 | This is Change? Another Clinton Retread Appointed by PE Obama | TheCapitalist | Mon Jan 5 | 117 |
| Obama picks Leon Panetta to head Cia | Grace-580101 | Tue Jan 6 | 0 |
 | Panetta has unusual portfolio to be CIA chief | Associated Press | Mon Jan 5 | 0 |
 | Panetta Chosen as C.I.A. Chief in Surprise Step | The New York Times | Mon Jan 5 | 4 |
| Senators say no witch hunt aimed at spy agencies | Associated Press | Tue Jan 6 | 5 |
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{"commentId":4674492,"authorDomain":"robbymoeller"}
A break with the Bush policies? Oh right, the ones that have prevented 31 terror plots (that we know about) from killing lives on American soil since 9/11.
We should definitely do away with those so David Gregory and the faculty lounge at Princeton and Harvard can stop having to furrow their brows so much when thinking about what real leaders have to do to keep their people safe.
We can all sleep sounder at night knowing that Obama is tapping people without experience in fighting/finding bad guys (you know, that stuff that leads rational, patriotic people to implement the type of policies that theory-only liberals scoff at).
{"commentId":4674492,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"robbymoeller"}
- 6 votes
#1 - Mon Jan 5, 2009 5:01 PM EST{"commentId":4674932,"authorDomain":"osaide"}
Well people need to start from somewhere, are you saying you reward tyranny cos you are scared? Then you loose your freedom because you are too lazy to stand for justice?
{"commentId":4674932,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"osaide"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":4675630,"authorDomain":"johncpo41"}
Yea boy!! There's a celebration at the old Kremlin tonight, I think the KGB and Vlad Putin are thinking of ways to get into the halls of the CIA and Barrack just handed them the keys to the building!
{"commentId":4675630,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"johncpo41"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":4675679,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
31 terror plots? lol like the homless kids that had no shoes in forida?
{"commentId":4675679,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":4675976,"authorDomain":"incredulous"}
Beef, you seem to have a very high threshold against terror plot thwarting. I'm happy that even one, say preventing blowing up JFK airport, its fuel storage tanks and fuel lines was successful. You don't like that one either? (I don't think shoes were involved, in case you were wondering.)
{"commentId":4675976,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"incredulous"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":4677254,"authorDomain":"PartysOver"}
{"commentId":4678003,"authorDomain":"alkhidr"}
If Bush had such great expertise working for him, how did 9/11 happen on his watch when he was given briefings in advance that this sort of thing was in the works? If the expertise was so good on his watch, why the invasion of Iraq for WMDs, oh excuse me, to save the Iraqi's from Saddam (our ally under Reagan and Bush Sr. until the first Gulf war), er, to install capitalism and democracy in Iraq (the rationale shifts more than the sands of the Maghreb). Let's recall Heckuva job Brownie for Bush's pick to deal with Katrina. And finally, I can only imagine what we would have got with McCain (more Palin clones?).
{"commentId":4678003,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"alkhidr"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":4678903,"authorDomain":"fadeplayer"}
Neither Panetta nor Blair are tainted by associations with Bush administration policies
One line in the article sums it up nicely.
{"commentId":4678903,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"fadeplayer"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":4678953,"authorDomain":"jfarchonis"}
A break with the Bush policies? Oh right, the ones that have prevented 31 terror plots (that we know about) from killing lives on American soil since 9/11.
We can all sleep sounder at night knowing that Obama is tapping people without experience in fighting/finding bad guys
Obama has no experience fighting bad-guys, he's got plenty of experience befriending those bad-guys though!
Comrade Panetta is another Marxist-apparatchik for the KGB.
{"commentId":4678953,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"jfarchonis"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":4685945,"authorDomain":"jimi"}
We should definitely do away with those so David Gregory and the faculty lounge at Princeton and Harvard can stop having to furrow their brows so much when thinking about what real leaders have to do to keep their people safe.
I'm confused, are you deliberately trying to sound like Jack Nicholson from "A Few Good Men", or is it an accident?
That said, I understand the why of Obama's picks, but in my opinion it will remain to be seen whether they are a good idea or not. I lean more towards libertarian, so the past few years have seen me be very pissed at the reduction in personal freedoms we have suffered in this country (does no one believe in "Give me liberty or give me death" anymore?).
Obama is inexperienced, and inexperienced leaders should surround themselves with people who know what they're doing (thus the spate of "retreads" in his appointments), but if he lets them bully him (a la Cheney), then he will be as bad a leader as W. JFK took the opposite approach, and surrounded himself with "smart" people instead of experienced people, and had several major gaffes early in his administration (Bay of Pigs, the early M16 failures, etc).
Which way is the best? I don't know, but I'm willing to go along with the new direction for now because I'm confident the course we were on is failing. Even W had a few years in office where he had the benefit of the doubt, and didn't start getting slammed on policy until well after 9/11. My sincere hope is that if things do start going badly, that this administration has the brains/guts to do a 180, again something I think was missing from W's 8 years.
{"commentId":4685945,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"jimi"}
{"commentId":4687231,"authorDomain":"robbymoeller"}
You are insinuating that it would be bad to sound like The Joker in this instance....
Rob Reiner's take on how the military/CIA/etc runs things is hardly one that any rational libertarian ought to be citing, but as a fan-o-film, I doff my cap to thee for the reference.
What is failing about Bush's policies so far as Iraq/Afghan/War on Terror is going? That things have been up and down is not a reason to cut and run. (I know, too clichey). The Surge Worked. We've prented dozens of attacks with things like the Patriot Act. None of the 19 hijackers would have gotten through with our restrictions today. More than 1/8 of the prisoners we've let go from Guantanomo Bay have gone back to the battlefield (proving we had the right guys to begin with).
Again, that mistakes have been made by a fallible human leader is no reason to ignore his successes and certainly not grounds for hiring the least qualified Commnader-in-Chief who is now putting the least qualified person in charge of the CIA. This is the point of the article and what we are debating: are these good picks?
Answer: nah.
{"commentId":4687231,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"robbymoeller"}
{"commentId":4689753,"authorDomain":"jimi"}
What is failing about Bush's policies so far as Iraq/Afghan/War on Terror is going? That things have been up and down is not a reason to cut and run. (I know, too clichey). The Surge Worked.
It has apparently, but it took years and thousands of lives to get there, not to mention attacking Iraq to stop Al Queda was pointless since they had no relation. Our enemy was/is in Afghanistan, and we let them regroup while trying to finally get things right in Iraq. Now we have a second up-hill battle, not to mention that we never did catch bin Laden, which I consider the greatest failure of W's (1st place goes to Katrina, hands down).
We've prented dozens of attacks with things like the Patriot Act.
At what cost? This is what I meant by liberty or death. I firmly believe that you can't stop a crazy person from doing something crazy, and all we have done is give the government nearly limitless authority to spy on us with no checks and balances.
None of the 19 hijackers would have gotten through with our restrictions today.
This is not supported by the facts. There have been dozens of demonstrations of people sneaking things through the TSA just to show they could.
More than 1/8 of the prisoners we've let go from Guantanomo Bay have gone back to the battlefield (proving we had the right guys to begin with).
Perhaps, but I bet at least some of them were pretty pissed at being thrown in jail for years and tortured for no reason. There is ample evidence that a percentage of detainees were singled out by people with whom they had a feud, and were not enemy combatants. I'm sure that you're correct that some enemy combatants were released only to pick up arms again, but I do not believe that is the case for all of them.
{"commentId":4689753,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"jimi"}
{"commentId":4692507,"authorDomain":"axxiz144"}
The Surge Worked.
That the surge worked only proves how misguided Rumsfeld's pet policy of small, fast and light was. It was brilliant at winning the war, but a miserable failure at winning the peace.
Had we gone in with the number the career professionals reccommended -- 435k -- I daresay we would have been home by now.
That W even listened to that number shows how inexperienced he was; or rather, how enamored he was with our star-wars military capabilities. Either way, he failed.
More than 1/8 of the prisoners we've let go from Guantanomo Bay have gone back to the battlefield (proving we had the right guys to begin with).
If they weren't a terrorist when they got there, they sure as hell were when they left after years without being charged. In any event, that still leaves 7/8ths who apparently got an all expense paid vacation to Cuba but committed no crime.
Those of them they have truly forgiven us are indeed admirable human beings. I don't know that I could be that good of a Christian.
{"commentId":4692507,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"axxiz144"}
{"commentId":4674759,"authorDomain":"lindawallace"}
Its gonna be a good news cycle tonight. Chris Matthews will have another thrill running up his leg at the Al Franken win, Richardson will be in hiding from the authorities and cameras, and the military will be scratching their heads as to why Obama put a novice in charge of the CIA at one of the worst security times in our nation's history.
Change we can believe in???
{"commentId":4674759,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"lindawallace"}
- 4 votes
#2 - Mon Jan 5, 2009 5:24 PM EST{"commentId":4675995,"authorDomain":"incredulous"}
I'm waiting for The Obama to appoint Panetta's wife to run NSA.
{"commentId":4675995,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"incredulous"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":4684012,"authorDomain":"optimismrachel"}
I wonder if Obama is going to ask Diddy to aid in foreign relations? After all, didn't Diddy try to ask his Saudi 'brothers' for help? Diddy also has no Bush ties....
Going to change.gov to recommend now.
{"commentId":4684012,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"optimismrachel"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":4674817,"authorDomain":"JohnHirsch"}
The CIA is filled with BUSH Sr men. Fire them all first.
{"commentId":4674817,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"JohnHirsch"}
- 2 votes
#3 - Mon Jan 5, 2009 5:29 PM EST{"commentId":4675174,"authorDomain":"varmintvsf"}
I suppose 3000 deaths due to an attack in our home wasnt enough to change the mind of some. Appointments like these are why it happened in the first place. Clintons ignorance of the terrorists for eight years was part of the cause of the first attack. Those who carry out acts of terrorism deserve to be tortured. The terrorists dont play by any set of rules. Call it uncivilized or what ever you want. You have to fight fire with fire.
{"commentId":4675174,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"varmintvsf"}
- 2 votes
#4 - Mon Jan 5, 2009 5:53 PM EST{"commentId":4675702,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
you mean how clinton started an dept of terrorism and begged the gop for hte same powers they gave bush and they all creid tyranny?
you mean the clinton admin whoes peopel were begging bush to take al quada seriously when 9/11 happeend?
sure you do.
road to 9-11 oisnt reality, no matter how much you goprs wish it was.
{"commentId":4675702,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":4676308,"authorDomain":"luckybaby2469"}
Actually the US Departments who were the ones who ignored terrorists that started making plans as way back in 86.The first terrorist acts against WTC 93 in Feb,when Clinton just became President was not done by Al Qaeda.The FBI and other intelligence knew we had terrorists in our Country and on the most wanted list and they still let them into the Country.These terrorist were set up in the cities of NY,and NJ and most were busted between 89-92 but they were able to stay in the country and carry out their attacks.Newspapers received letters from the man who planned for the attack on WTC,also planned to attack the UN and other NY landmarks.Reports said if they would of parked the van more closer to the concrete wall in the garage it would of destroyed the Completely.We can't blame all of the Presidents because it was the job of the US Departments to prevent these attacks on US soil.Even though our Presidents hired people to head these Departments they relied on them to protect and do their jobs but failed.
Since WTC 911,we now have Homeland Security and more stronger Departments to do everything to protect the US.One of the biggest bust so far on US soil in Summer 07' in NJ,where terrorists were planning to attack the popular Military bases of the East Coast.
We were a weak Country then but we're a stronger Country now to make sure we won't be attacked again.
{"commentId":4676308,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"luckybaby2469"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":4676687,"authorDomain":"mentalshift"}
We can't blame all of the Presidents because it was the job of the US Departments to prevent these attacks on US soil.Even though our Presidents hired people to head these Departments they relied on them to protect and do their jobs but failed.
Which is why, eventhough this pick is surprising, an administrative expert may be exactly what we need.
We have never had a failure of intelligence gathering; we have failed to put it to good use. That's a failure of administration.
{"commentId":4676687,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"mentalshift"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":4679651,"authorDomain":"luckybaby2469"}
They must communicate as you know the last one before Obama,his team kinda just dropped like flies.Especially General Powell,good man but was so used and felt like a fool at the UN.
Does anyone knows who has the most resignations in a Presidents Administration?
{"commentId":4679651,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"luckybaby2469"}
{"commentId":4675225,"authorDomain":"lindawallace"}
In all fairness, Obama has done a pretty good job on cabinet selections accept for Richardson, but this pick puzzles me. Maybe Leon can pull it off, but you need an SOB in times like these and Panetta might be too timid.
{"commentId":4675225,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"lindawallace"}
- 1 vote
#5 - Mon Jan 5, 2009 5:57 PM EST{"commentId":4675755,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
because bush's guy was the first time we had the military in charge of the Civilian Intelligence Agency
when bush put Hayden in charge, a lot of people freaked.
See there is a reason we have different intelligent agencies and would want one not controlled by the military. The military complex controls a very large amount of cash. While coops are unlikely in our democracy, it is not unlikely to have intelligence padded so budgets dont fall.
{"commentId":4675755,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":4678296,"authorDomain":"ziggy7252"}
JoulesBeef
first time we had the military in charge of the Civilian Intelligence Agency
I was under the impression it was the Central Intelligence Agency. When did they change the name?
{"commentId":4678296,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"ziggy7252"}
{"commentId":4675436,"authorDomain":"dtagair"}
If we give up our way of life, our freedoms, the rule of law and due process out of fear then our enemies have won. When our government authoizes torture and other violations of international law, our country looses the respect of the world. Our own troops are put at risk when we no longer abide by the Geneva convention.
{"commentId":4675436,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"dtagair"}
- 5 votes
#6 - Mon Jan 5, 2009 6:13 PM EST{"commentId":4675704,"authorDomain":"johncpo41"}
Since when does the Geneva Convention apply when the terrorists are bording the planes filled with innocent passengers and flying them into the Pentagon, for the second attack on Washington, DC which from all indications is a very plausable possibilty.
Since when did the Geneva Convention ever be honored by any enemy of the USA, or worse when U.S. service memember were be-headed on Al Jazeer Televison. Keep the faith in that piece of paper and find out what it's like to be tortured by the Hamas and other organizations that haven't respected human life in over 5000 years.
Right, I thought so!
{"commentId":4675704,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"johncpo41"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":4675781,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
john yoo?
lol what makes us the Good guys dude?
since when?? since we signed them.. i think you might want to read them. Especially that part about exceptions.
besides the supreme court disagrees with you thats why they got habeous.
{"commentId":4675781,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":4676428,"authorDomain":"luckybaby2469"}
Joules,I read a couple of those Court decisions as to where the Judges ruled against the agencies in lawsuits from the defendents because the Patriot Act is violating the peoples rights.
SGT David
If we give up our way of life, our freedoms, the rule of law and due process out of fear then our enemies have won
I agree with that I always said America should not fear to live life,if we do those enemies will laugh at us because they will feel they instilled the fear in us.
We ain't Skeerred,nope nope..
{"commentId":4676428,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"luckybaby2469"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":4675711,"authorDomain":"coluzzijosephmerchantmarinemissingperson"}
{"commentId":4675723,"authorDomain":"ewstephen60"}
Experience is over-rated. Anyone who has experience in anything will do things the way experience has taught him. Experience breeds incestuous thinking. Fresh and innovative thinking isn't likely, but a repeat of the same mistakes is. Intelligence, the gray matter kind, is, however, very important. So intelligent men heading up the intelligence arm of the country is a good thing. Both of the candidates seem to be well qualified on that basis.
{"commentId":4675723,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"ewstephen60"}
#8 - Mon Jan 5, 2009 6:35 PM EST{"commentId":4677832,"authorDomain":"jwcarew"}
Sounds like a vote for Palin.
{"commentId":4677832,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"jwcarew"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":4683156,"authorDomain":"ewstephen60"}
Jim...
"Intelligence, the gray matter kind, is, however, very important."
and that's a vote for Palin, how???
{"commentId":4683156,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"ewstephen60"}
{"commentId":4726489,"authorDomain":"jwcarew"}
Do not allow your news source, SNL, allow you to ignore the incredible accomplishments this woman has achieved. Intelligence is not a problem.
Joe Biden has proven that it is not even a requirement in politics. I was making the OBVIOUS points that you do not feel experience is necessary, performance problems do not seem to be of concern or fence walking should not come into play.
Just another example of hoping for change from someone that has changed nothing...but I hope you are right.
{"commentId":4726489,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"jwcarew"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":4676643,"authorDomain":"neteng"}
WTF? Is he just picking names out of the phonebook now?
{"commentId":4676643,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"neteng"}
- 1 vote
#9 - Mon Jan 5, 2009 7:41 PM EST{"commentId":4677534,"authorDomain":"joelearley"}
Just don't get it do you?? Blair will do the nuts and bolts, Panetta will be the manager,
Great combination, Blair knows the ins and outs, Paneta will translate in human terms....I like this combination.
{"commentId":4677534,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"joelearley"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":4677631,"authorDomain":"gedanken"}
Only old farts still use phonebooks.
{"commentId":4677631,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"gedanken"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":4676722,"authorDomain":"cricketticket"}
If I were to appoint a head to the department of the C.I.A. I wouldn't announce it on T.V.... who knows maybe Mr.Panetta is a decoy.
What does the C.I.A do exactly to the public which is such an irritant? I think the any person in the U.S. can gather correct statistical information- and then what- you know where everything is- it was there already to begin with.
Mass Graves is MikeAlike (album title "Model Male" available on digital @ Amazon MP3 and iTunes)
{"commentId":4676722,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"cricketticket"}
#10 - Mon Jan 5, 2009 7:48 PM EST{"commentId":4676749,"authorDomain":"axxiz144"}
The guy was Chief of Staff, and a successful one at that. He sat in the daily briefings; as an 8 term congressman he's been around the block many, many times.
If the worst thing they can say about the guy is he doesn't have direct experience, then I expect he'll do fine... perhaps even better that those who grew up inside of the system and have no will to change it, much less the cojones to rock the boat.
{"commentId":4676749,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"axxiz144"}
- 1 vote
#11 - Mon Jan 5, 2009 7:50 PM EST{"commentId":4676797,"authorDomain":"cricketticket"}
George W.Bush gets more negative publicity than Marilyn Manson- I am curious if he feeds off the disgust or can relate to being hated?
{"commentId":4676797,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"cricketticket"}
#12 - Mon Jan 5, 2009 7:53 PM EST{"commentId":4677149,"authorDomain":"ysasa2007"}
{"commentId":4677538,"authorDomain":"jcrackhorn"}
I'm OK with Panetta although I was surprised to hear his name. GW Bush was DCIA and he's the one that got Bin Laden to help the Mujahadeen to fight the Russians. My guess is a few politicos will be removed and managerial flow charts examined, efficiencies and automations made. Lift up the rug here and there and find some dirt, scrub real hard, clean things up. This country has been rotting from the inside out, applying alcohol will cause some pain but in the end we get a nice clean wound to go forward with.
{"commentId":4677538,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"jcrackhorn"}
- 1 vote
#14 - Mon Jan 5, 2009 8:56 PM EST{"commentId":4677635,"authorDomain":"Afair"}
{"commentId":4677723,"authorDomain":"coluzzijosephmerchantmarinemissingperson"}
{"commentId":4677783,"authorDomain":"joelearley"}
Hmmm, let's seeeee....has anyone else been chosen to run the CIA that did not have direct experience??? Wait, wait!! I know! Ummm, it's right on the tip of my tongue.................
Oh Yeah!! George Herbert Walker Bush!!! Hmmm, can Panetta do as well?? Let's see, trained terrorist we're fighting now...check. Give nerve gas and chemical weapons to middle Eastern dictators......check, Make sure the dictator gets killed...check Smuggle drugs in to the USA?......check Frame your middleman and let him rot in a Miami jail??...Check
I'm ok with Panetta.
{"commentId":4677783,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"joelearley"}
- 3 votes
#17 - Mon Jan 5, 2009 9:16 PM EST{"commentId":4678083,"authorDomain":"jwcarew"}
As White House Chief of Staff during the Clinton administration, he spearheaded the internal effort to find a new CIA chief that led to the selection of John Deutsch in 1995. Deutsch served for 18 months. After he resigned, CIA security officers found classified material on his home computer, a violation of security procedures.
How's this for a good idea? Put the man that spearheaded this selection in charge of the whole dang thing. I wonder if he had a hand in the selection of Tenet.
Bush inherited a CIA that was woefully unprepared to address concerns in Iraq (George Tenet "At the Center of the Storm, My years at the CIA"), because of a woefully unprepared leader, George Tenet. Because of the CIA's lack of intelligence, our country had to use intelligence from other sources.
Now, when intelligence is so important in obtaining world peace, we place in charge of the agency the man that has proven to be a failure. Hope is not the answer for all concerns. Sometimes you need Jack Nicholson on that wall.
{"commentId":4678083,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"jwcarew"}
- 1 vote
#18 - Mon Jan 5, 2009 9:46 PM EST{"commentId":4678857,"authorDomain":"watersportgirl"}
How about a Secretary of Defense with no military experience at all (who instead applied for five draft deferments) sending our sons and daughters into harm's way in the Gulf War?
Dick Cheney.
He was Chief of Staff (Ford), then a member of the U.S. Representatives and then Secretary of Defense.
No military experience whatsoever. He does have draft deferment experience, though.
{"commentId":4678857,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"watersportgirl"}
- 1 vote
#19 - Mon Jan 5, 2009 11:02 PM EST{"commentId":4764697,"authorDomain":"varmintvsf"}
How about the military experience of our pres. elect? But I suppose that doent matter to those of you that refuse to think on your own.
{"commentId":4764697,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"varmintvsf"}
{"commentId":4678876,"authorDomain":"watersportgirl"}
For the record, Leon Panetta's experience:
Long history of bipartisanship and centrist ideologies. Left (R) party for the (D) party due to civil rights issues.
Served as:
- First Lieutenant, U.S. Army (Commendation Medal; Operations and Planning of Intelligence)
- Assistant to Secretary of Dept. of Health (Nixon)
- Assistant to Mayor of New York City (R)
- Attorney in own law firm
- U.S. House of Representatives (1977-1993; nine terms)
- Chairman of several House Committees, including Budget, Domestic Marketing, Personnel/Police, Vietnam Veterans, and others
- Director of U.S. Office of Management and Budget (Clinton) and is credited as the key player in obtaining a balanced budget
- White House Chief of Staff (under Clinton)
- Created the CA State University- Monterey
- Distinguished Scholar to the Chancellor of CA State University system
- Presidential Professor at UC Santa Cruz; professor at Santa Clara University
- Advocate for world’s oceans; created legislation to create the Monterey Bay Nat’l Marine Sanctuary; Chairman of U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy
- NYSE: Co-chairman of the Corporate Accountability and Listing Standards Committee
His experience may not involve direct CIA work. But at least he's intelligent AND he's integral. That works for me.
{"commentId":4678876,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"watersportgirl"}
- 2 votes
#20 - Mon Jan 5, 2009 11:05 PM EST{"commentId":4678951,"authorDomain":"jwcarew"}
True, very intelligent, and has integrity to boot. I wonder if he can fix my car. No, I should see a mechanic...one with integrity I hope.
{"commentId":4678951,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"jwcarew"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":4679253,"authorDomain":"jfarchonis"}
For the record, Leon Panetta's experience:
A long history of communist association.
Panetta is a member of the pro-communist Institute for Policy Studies.
The IPS is described as a Washinton-based "Think Factory", which helped
train extremist who incite violence in the United States and whose
educational research serves as a cover for intrigue and political
agitation" (FBI file 175-398).
Another description given is that the
"IPS apparently exercises considerable influence in the New Left
Movement and may have as its goal the destruction of the United States
Government/"
Mainstream media, usually very liberal, has described the
IPS as follows: Wall Street Journal... "A funnel for disinformation",
Forbes.... "A radical Washington propaganda mill", National Review...
"The perfect intellectual front for Soviet activities which would be
resisted if they were to originate openly from the KGB."
http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cur62.htm
The foxes have taken over the henhouse!
{"commentId":4679253,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"jfarchonis"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":4679733,"authorDomain":"watersportgirl"}
Based on what source?
A quoted FBI file without giving the link (I am assuming it is declassified) is not credible.
Without a credible source, that accusation is absurd hearsay.
{"commentId":4679733,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"watersportgirl"}
{"commentId":4683671,"authorDomain":"jfarchonis"}
Based on what source?
Based on the information provided in the link.
From SECRET by David Price:
Page 1: IPS has firm ties to anti-American terrorists and militant Marxists worldwide; and IPS has firm ties to Bill and Hillary Clinton also. Accordingly, concern over the Clinton's ties to IPS personnel were voiced by Rush Limbaugh, Donald McAlvany, Daniel Wattenberg and William F. Buckley, Jr. prior to the 1992 election - and for good reason - the FBI reveals:
IPS is described as a Washington-based 'Think Factory' which helped train extremists who incite violence in the United States ... and whose educational research serves as a cover for intrigue and political agitation. [See FBI File 175-398, June 9, 1976 message traffic, page 8. See FBI documents in bibliography for information on how to obtain all FBI documents cited in SECRET.]
Individuals who have been identified as CP [Communist Party] members ... have participated in IPS functions. IPS representatives have also affiliated with known communists. [FBI File 100-447935, Vol. 1. March 14, l969, page 1]
Karl Hess is publicly described as a researcher for IPS ... Hess has stated that he sees no alternative but to use violent tactics to destroy the United States government. [FBI File 100-447935, Vol. 2, Secret Internal Security Report WFO 100-46784, of October 16, 1970, page 12]
IPS apparently exercises considerable influence in the New Left movement and may have as its goal the destruction of the U.S. government.
Clinton's appointment of Derek Shearer as his top economic advisor was no fluke. Shearer's sister, Brooke, is Hillary's traveling companion. As this booklet shall document, Clinton's close friend Derek Shearer has not only been a member of the subversive IPS, but is also a prolific advocate of Marxist socialism and is ardent in his open praises for life in communist lands. Shearer has long proposed that America's free enterprise system be dismantled and that businesses be controlled by powerful socialist planners instead.
Page 2: FBI Warns of IPS Infiltrating U.S. Government with Subversives.
Such revelations are doubly disturbing in view of Secret FBI reports which reveal IPS has attempted to infiltrate U.S. government agencies with "radicals" and even "communists," who intend to enact Anti-American, pro-Marxist policies:
This gives IPS activists access to Government secrets as well as the opportunity to influence opinions and political developments. Obviously the institute is in a position to infiltrate persons into the Government agencies who are indoctrinated in revolutionary ideology ...
They constitute the new United Front with penetration in depth by communists... In effect, IPS Director Arthur Waskow's outline is an entire framework of a shadow government with shadow institutions." [FBI File 100-447935, Vol. 1, Secret Report of March 14, 1969, pages 46-47.]
An IPS working paper captioned 'Proposal for a Five Year Plan for Radical Reconstruction' is said to delineate ... the radical reconstruction of U.S. society through the creation of counterstructures ... It was further denoted 'These individuals are instructed that they must work from the establishment but, while doing so, not lose sight of their basic radical beliefs.' [FBI File 100-447935, Vol. 3 Secret Report, June 10, 1971, pp. 1-2.]
Page 8: IPS Leaders Sponsor Marxist Art: For years communist leaders have realized the propaganda premium art can yield upon a targeted culture. Chairman Mao Tse-tung himself wrote about this propaganda factor in his Yenan lectures. He rightly concluded that a dedicated Marxist artist in a targeted country is worth more than a thousand soldiers in that country's borders. Mao explained that such cultural saboteurs were not only to use their mediums to propagandize their audiences that communism was good, but to paint the existing orders of targeted countries as being inherently evil.
IPS is deeply involved in this form of cultural warfare. James F. Cooper reports, 'The primary goal of IPS (art) is to indoctrinate Americans with Marxist dogma and disinformation." [James F. Cooper, "Marxism, Pornography", The New American, Sept. 10, 1990, page 35.] For example, IPS funded the infamous Committed to Print exhibit in NYC. That event, which was almost exclusively funded by IPS Chairman Peter Weiss and his wife Cora, was dedicated to fabricating stories of "genocidal atrocities" America commits against underprivileged minorities, and to exploiting the old communist class warfare struggle between the Bourgeoisie (middle and upper class "enemies" and the Proletariat lower class "workers").
Without a credible source, that accusation is absurd hearsay.
The FBI Files have been provided.
To deny them is absurd.
{"commentId":4683671,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"jfarchonis"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":4679666,"authorDomain":"dkbales"}
Another Clinton retread for a post he has no knowledge of or experience to fill it.
{"commentId":4679666,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"dkbales"}
#21 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 12:40 AM EST{"commentId":4680740,"authorDomain":"joelearley"}
You mean like george Bush Sr.?
{"commentId":4680740,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"joelearley"}
{"commentId":4733268,"authorDomain":"dkbales"}
No more like O' or C. Kennedy or ....
{"commentId":4733268,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"dkbales"}
{"commentId":4681819,"authorDomain":"saleiseca"}
good morning,
I voted for Change (Yes We Can!)...from past Administrations, Democratic and Republican alike...so now I am staring at a rerun of the Clinton Administration for the next 4 years! Beginning with the designee to serve as our Secretary of the Treasury, through Mrs. Clinton to serve as our Secretary of State, and ending with the newest designee, Mr. Panetta. I concede for purposes of discussion that each is qualified for the position, but the point is that none represents change. This, after witnessing a dramatic change in position by the President elect concerning our withdrawal from Iraq. I am trying very hard to remain hopeful. Given these early developments, it is perfectly understandable why so many of our fellow citizens view the political process with deep cynicism and fail to vote at elections.
take care
{"commentId":4681819,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"saleiseca"}
- 1 vote
#22 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 9:10 AM EST{"commentId":4684164,"authorDomain":"optimismrachel"}
Well, don't lose all hope. I didn't vote Obama because I was skeptical, but doesn't mean he won't deliver on any of his promises. Keep voting, no matter who you vote for, it's the right thing to do!
{"commentId":4684164,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"optimismrachel"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":4695578,"authorDomain":"GAGUY"}
Panetta ran the day to day as Chief of staff for a sitting President...trust me folks, you cannot get any closer to the actual real deal than to be the person "crisis managing the malestrom" for the POTUS!
CIA is broken and politicized, which is also why you see the very negative responses from those with past associations, obligations and culpabilities.
Panetta is just about the perfect person to get our "spooks" back on task; and away from the political fallout remaining from recent years of Executive Branch flouting of our Constitution.
I really do not much care if the recent past's obviously culpable miscreants get their just "desserts" (yes I know about the sp!...)
I really just want our National Intelligence Community to get back on task after spending 8 years "up the decider's butt"!!
{"commentId":4695578,"threadId":"461430","contentId":"2276717","authorDomain":"GAGUY"}
- 1 vote
#23 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 12:25 AM EST{"canLink":false,"threadId":"461430","isPrivate":false}
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