What Obama's Pick of Leon Panetta May Signal About the CIA

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just a young Cameroonian giving encouragements to CIA agents around the world.Can you people higher me to be part of your organization at any level.

luios randolf tarh 5:29PM March 20, 2009

The elitist of this country are trying to put fear into the minds of the America people by using the word socialism when it comes to the government for the people, by the people is making ways for then to live the American's dream which is a right by their constitution. Their fear is that their control of the vast wealth for themselves is no longer a right,so they are crying out the word socialism.The people of America eyes are open to their elitist doctrine that if you work hard then you can become one of them. Well the vast amount of citizen(95%)are working hard every day and they are losing their homes,unable to save the funds for their children education,can't pay the medical bills, have to give their pets up for adoption,etc, etc.
My mother will tell me " God don"t sleep". This America is a praying nation and I fell that the nation praises final reach the Heavens and we have today a president for the people,by the people.

Percival Vanvield of CA 2:14AM March 20, 2009

Mike Hayden is well-respected by CIA insiders because he knows his stuff. Panetta comes in without the inside knowledge or technical intelligence expertise, but appears his appointment was mostly for political expediency and to let President Obama retain some control over this historically highly controversial agency. Contrast Panetta with Cheney's attempt to take over the CIA 5 years ago when CIA's heads were cut off and replaced. This is a much more orderly and respectable transition. It would have been beneficial for continuity were Hayden allowed to stay, but too many Demos have targeted him over spying. The reality is criminals, corporations, and foreign enemies do more spying on Americans than our government ever will or will be allowed to do. The ISPs, cell companies and call centers all have imbedded moles from foreign spy agencies, organized crime, and competitors who spy and share private details on most Americans everyday. And there's nothing being done to stop these abuses as long as people and politicians are focused on punishing and criticizing the CIA and taking away their ability to spy on our enemies abroad (and their domestic conspirators).

Tony Lee of CA 4:06PM March 13, 2009

These two should get along as they both want to socialize their countries. Like Rush I wish O nothing but failure.

ralph of CO 9:14PM February 21, 2009

You had to figure it would happen sooner or later. The CIA which was created by a democrat to spy on people (Harry S. Truman) is now going to be run by Panetta the friend of a man who thinks socialism is what we need more of. What's scary is that the man is the POTUS.

jeff of WI 1:56PM February 15, 2009

If, at 71, he's got enough energy for the job he might be a very good choice. After his first choice fell through, Obama was faced with finding someone who hasn't dirtied his hands in the last eight years through involvement with torture, secret renditions, Guantanamo, etc. Someone with no such involvement can do a thorough house cleaning and help elevate the agency. It will never be a "goody two-shoes" outfit (it has murdered too many people in the name of national security), but at least it could be something akin to the FBI; something that ethical, moral Americans need not be ashamed of. It's also important to realize that Director of the CIA is not the top intelligence job anymore. Panetta would report to Adm. Blair, who would oversee all of the 16 intelligence agencies, the majority of which are under the DoD.

Gene of TX 6:08PM January 07, 2009

I wish CIA not just protect us from the evil one but also make a glorious things to do.

Andre Budianto 7:04AM January 07, 2009

I think the USA would be better served with someone with extensive experience in the intelligence community.

T of OR 3:08PM January 06, 2009

I don't know if Obama has choosen the correct person for the position of CIA Director or not. I think Leon Panetta has an outstanding resume as a politican and has back some good causes, but whether or not he has the qualities to run something as different as the CIA is another thing. Obama can
always appoint someone else if Panetta does not work out. Time
will tell.

Elaine Voda of AR 1:20PM January 06, 2009

What success do the current and past CIA directors have to show for their intelligence experience? Unless we want to stick our heads in the sand, what success does the CIA have to show us?
The U.S. Department of State every year publish the list of the
"worst" abusers of human rights regimes, Iran, North Korea, Burma, Syria, Cuba, etc.. But right there, in Cuba's Guantanamo U.S. prison, as well as in Abu Ghraib in Iraq, the U.S. has proven that we are the most brutal regime in the world. Add to that the hundreds of killings of Afghan and Pakistani civilians by CIA pilotless drones, and the desperate calls by Afghan president Hamid Karzai and Pakistan's president Asif Zardari to
stop the killing of civilians, and the touted success by the CIA directors are seen as war crimes by the rest of the world.
I understand that criticizing the CIA may not sound patriotic to
some Americans, but I also understand Baraq Onama was elected with a landslide on the promise -among others- to close down Guantanamo. Plus, on January 1, 2009, a CNN/Opinion Research
Corp poll showed that 75% of Americans viewed George Bush's exit
as "good riddance." Therefore, 75% of Americans expect that -along with Bush- there should be "good riddance" at the CIA
global practices under George Bush's appointees -including Michael Hayden. Obama promised "Change", 75% of American crave for, and the CIA doesn't have a distinguished record to be treated like a sacred cow.
The world expect Baraq Obama to be a leader that would seek accommodation and good relations with all nations - not as a jingoistic egomaniac that see every state that doesn't take orders from the U.S. as a shooting target. And those 75% of American that can't wait to see Bush exit from the White House think along those lines.
I believe Leon Panetta appointment as a CIA Director is a blessing, and I see any appointment to the CIA post of a person with "Intelligence" experience as a curse. Case in point: On
October 17, 2006, the CIA released two supposed Al Qaeda detainees from Guantanamo after a 4 year detention there because it had nothing to charge them for. They were, Nasrat Khan 78, and Khan Yakhdand 105. Nasrat was 74 and Yakhdand was 101 years old when they were arrested as terrorists! That time the CIA was directed by George Tenet, an experience and long career CIA Director. Where is the rationale of good intelligence experience as an asset when 101 year olds are arrested and kept in solitary confinement for 4 years? Does Obama want to allow supposed experience people with similar attitudes to continue running the CIA?
George Bush and his henchmen have discredited the U.S. worldwide. Now is the time for reconciliation with other nations
and with the Muslims. And Leon Panetta is the best choice to
guide the CIA to a new path of service that should exclude torture or any human rights violations -as mandated by the Geneva Convention. Nikos Retsos, retired professor

Nikos Retsos of IL 11:26AM January 06, 2009