Here’s some breaking news:
CIA director Leon Panetta will be named to succeed Robert Gates as secretary of defense and Gen. David Petraeus will be nominated to replace him as CIA director, The Associated Press reports, quoting unidentified sources.
I don’t know how well Panetta has run the CIA but I do know that he has succeeded in a couple of areas. First, he’s kept the CIA out of the news. Second, and it’s related, we haven’t heard a lot of leaks and anonymous griping from the ranks. To me, those are real accomplishments. I think Panetta is the first DCI in my lifetime that I didn’t think was a ruthless thug, so I mark that in his favor, too. I’m surprised that he’s been chosen to run the Pentagon, but he should be easily confirmed and I’ll be happy to have an actual Democrat in charge for the first time since 1997.
As for General Petraeus, the Obama administration has conclusively avoided having to run against him for reelection. I don’t particularly like having a military man in charge of the CIA, regardless of the individual in question. Yet, he’s qualified and he’ll be easily confirmed. The CIA isn’t what it used to be anyway. The Director of National Intelligence has the responsibility of reporting to the president. I guess I just hope that the CIA doesn’t become a little fiefdom that winds up sniping against the national security team. If Petraeus continues Panetta’s success in keeping the organization quiet, then I’ll be happy.
