Obama selects Panetta for defense secretary, Petraeus for CIA

[charlie and algernon]

Washington (CNN) -- In the most extensive reshaping of the Obama administration's national security team to date, the president will name CIA director Leon Panetta as his nominee to succeed Robert Gates as defense secretary, a senior defense official and another U.S. official said Wednesday.

It took a meeting with President Obama to convince Panetta to accept the job, a source familiar with the discussions told CNN. Panetta has been happy serving at the CIA, but "believes strongly in public service and answering the call from the commander-in-chief," the source said.

Obama will also name Gen. David Petraeus, now the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, as the replacement for Panetta as CIA director, a senior defense official said.

The president will nominate Lt. Gen. John Allen to replace Petraeus, a senior U.S. official said, and will nominate veteran diplomat Ryan Crocker as the next U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, sources said Wednesday.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/04/27/defense.panetta/index.html?hpt=T1

[Maven]

1. Hope and Retreads

[charlie and algernon]

2. yeah, I don't get these moves

If you're going to change it up, bring in fresh blood. Not the same guys just in different positions.

[gkhouston]

5. Agreed. Is the pool of competent, trustworthy people truly *that* small?

Playing musical chairs like this makes it looks like the Administration has a lot of shit to hide so they have to keep re-using the faithful rather than risk bringing someone new on board who might blow the whistle on some unsavory activities.

[goddess40]

3. Isn't Panetta pretty old? nt

[librechik]

4. If you want things to stay exactly the same , good nominations

if you are angry about CIA overreach and wimpy oversight, these noms should anger you.