Also understand how important it is to divorce politics from intelligence services in a republic. Bush 41 was CIA Director, so don't get too excited -- but I just don't like the entire concept.
Bill Clinton's former chief of staff Leon Panetta has been tapped to head the CIA in President-elect Barack Obama's administration, causing surprise and a bit of consternation by several individuals involved in the intelligence community.Bad on Obama. Who knows, maybe Leon is a quick learner - as he is a very good politician, but who wants training wheels on in the middle of a race?
Two Democratic sources close to the transition process said Monday that Panetta, who was a congressman and one-time head of the White House Office of Management and Budget, is Obama's pick to replace Michael Hayden at the CIA.
Panetta is a surprise pick since he has no experience in the intelligence world. However, as chief of staff he had considerable access to intelligence information and knows how the community operates.
