Comments on: Panetta to CIA

By: Panetta’s Selection for CIA “smells a bit of desperation” | Security Debrief - a blog of homeland security news and analysis

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:54:33 +0000

[...] Swampland - TIME.com » Blog Archive Panetta to CIA « This smells a bit of desperation. Leon Panetta is a terrific guy, a fine public servant–one of those people who reek of sanity and good judgment–but he doesn’t have much, if any, experience in spook world. var addthis_pub = "";Print this article ©2008 Adfero Group. All Rights Reserved. Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-2368616-2"); pageTracker._initData(); pageTracker._trackPageview(); [...]

By: The Right Man for the Job « Just Above Sunset

The Right Man for the Job « Just Above Sunset — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:56:13 +0000

[...] the other hand, Joe Klein comments here, saying this smells of [...]

By: leon panetta « unconquerable gladness

leon panetta « unconquerable gladness — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:55:04 +0000

[...] Jump to Comments leon panetta is one of those dudes with whom ive always agreed. joe klein says his nomination smacks of desperation. to me it smacks of the usual obama metaphor: intelligence, [...]

By: pelhamite1

pelhamite1 — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:33:08 +0000

Problem with the CIA is - they gather so much evidence that they can support pretty much any conclusion you want to get to. The run-up tp the Iraq invasion was not so much a CIA failure as much as the head of the CIA knowing what the President wanted to hear and telling him that. I am optimistic about Panetta simply because 1) I don't think he'll fit his views to suit Obama's agenda which is related to point 2) I don't think Obama is a guy who has an agenda, i.e. he views the world fairly objectively and isn't going to try to shoehorn events to fit his world view. I am sure the lefties are going to complain about Panetta, but in practical term he is a gut who is willling to describew the world as he sees it (based on the evidence available) and you cannot get much better than that.

By: formerlyjames

formerlyjames — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:44:58 +0000

shepherdwong, Wikipedia does mention that Clinton was involved in rendition, no mention of Panetta. Mention of Gore and others. As for "starting" rendition, appears that honor goes to Reagan. Again, please tell me about Panetta and rendition.

By: formerlyjames

formerlyjames — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:29:24 +0000

Mysterious things happen out of the CIA. Look back. GW "Big" Bush is CIA Director. Later. W "Little" Bush is president. The country is brought to its knees. Get my drift? Watch your back, be alert.

By: formerlyjames

formerlyjames — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:25:58 +0000

Joe says the CIA has a mixed record for the last 8 years. I would be inclined to think a dismal record for the last 50 years.

By: formerlyjames

formerlyjames — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:23:55 +0000

shepherdwong, Clinton and Panetta started the secret rendition program? That is news to me.

By: Decision ‘08 » Blog Archive » Out With The Bad, In With The…Worse?

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:23:36 +0000

[...] Joe Klein says the pick ’smells of desperation’, and an anonymous ex-spook probably says it best: “I find the choice of Leon Panetta to head the CIA a curious one,” one well-connected former spy tells Danger Room. “On the one hand, if you are looking to pick a nation’s top spook, it is generally a good idea to pick someone with more than a cursory exposure to the intelligence business. It is also more than a little annoying that we can’t seem to find a CIA chief that hasn’t spent all of their adult life playing politics.” [...]

By: Time » Blog Archive » Panetta on Torture

Time » Blog Archive » Panetta on Torture — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:54:08 +0000

[...] Joe notes below, multiple news outlets are reporting that Obama has found his next CIA director: Leon Panetta, who [...]