What's that article writer know? He's just a former CIA field director. ;)

Obama knows what he's doing.

Interesting guy.

Robert Baer

I'm not sure I'd call that an explanation. The article starts by qualifying Panetta as a Washington insider saying that's just what the CIA needs.

The article finishes by saying that the agency is best served by distancing itself from Washington and excessive politics.

Furthermore...

I'm open to suggestion but I'm not getting much. The best answer I've heard yet is that "Obama knows what he is doing."

Besides, I never trust anybody who has a book to sell. Even if the author is a CIA field officer.

I suspect that's the best answer me or anyone else is going to get - rationalizations notwithstanding.

Like Pie, I'm confused on this one but I'm hoping there's a middle ground between your extremes. :confused:

All the Dems have done on this one is to give the Repubs a chance to totally tear the guy appart during the conformation hearings. I can imagine them sitting up there saying, "So Mr. Pannnetta, list your intelligence experience and acomplishments that you think make you qualified to be the head of one of the largest intelligence agencies in the world."

Joe Biden admitted that they should have consulted more members of Congress who were involved in Intell before they chose Pannetta. I could see if they chose him for overall intell director instead of head of CIA, but they didn't. Now they will have to put up with more problems on the inside and if he is not respected by the rank and file he is going to have huge problems.

I don't care whose side I'm on...that is a great political cartoon. :)

I think it's about time the "rank and file" stopped stroking their petty egos and started doing what's best for the country. Not only in the CIA, but most of the government agencies.

I think that's what I've been trying to say all along: quit bitching and moaning about someone peeing in your spot and get on with the business of getting on board to do what's best for this country.

This article lists four CIA directors appointed as "outsiders", two who were "unwelcome", and "two of the agency's most successful directors".

I see what ya did thar

I think this is an odd choice for the post, but I have a very, very strong preference for allowing the commander in chief to staff his branch how he sees fit.

I think the job of the congress it to ensure that there is no gross negligence or blatant corruption in the nomination process, not to vet candidates based on ideological concerns or who they think might be a better fit for the gig. If you're going to hold someone accountable for how a job is done (and we will hold Obama accountable), you have to let them pick their people.

I believe they have been doing that all along. You seem to think otherwise, but the rank and file of this country has been doing what is right for a long time. It is the people at the top who keep screwing it up. This appointment is just opening the chance for another of those screw ups to do it again.

Which is it? :eyebrow: