Monday
Jan052009
Breaking News: Obama names Leon Panetta as Director of CIA
Monday, January 5, 2009 at 20:08
From the New York Times:
For the Times, "Given his background, Mr Panetta is a somewhat unusual choice", since he has no experience in the military or the intelligence services. That's not quite true --- directors like George H.W. Bush came "from the outside". However, it appears that Barack Obama's priorities in the choice, after his initial choice John Brennan ran into trouble because of his connections with CIA interrogation programmes, was to find a clear pair of hands. And a clear pair of hands with both connections on Capitol Hill and, Chief of Staff to President Clinton, management skills.
President-elect Barack Obama has selected Leon E. Panetta, the former congressman and White House chief of staff, to take over the Central Intelligence Agency
For the Times, "Given his background, Mr Panetta is a somewhat unusual choice", since he has no experience in the military or the intelligence services. That's not quite true --- directors like George H.W. Bush came "from the outside". However, it appears that Barack Obama's priorities in the choice, after his initial choice John Brennan ran into trouble because of his connections with CIA interrogation programmes, was to find a clear pair of hands. And a clear pair of hands with both connections on Capitol Hill and, Chief of Staff to President Clinton, management skills.