Obama Defends CIA Pick Panetta

Unexpected Intelligence Choice Not Likely To Draw Serious Opposition In The Senate

(AP)  President-elect Barack Obama is defending his unexpected CIA nominee Leon Panetta, who faced a surge of skepticism in Congress on Tuesday but is not expected to draw serious opposition when his confirmation reaches the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Mr. Obama promised that his intelligence team- led by Panetta and retired Adm. Dennis Blair, the nominee for national intelligence director - will break with Bush administration practices that he said tarnished U.S. intelligence agencies and American foreign policy.

Word of Panetta's selection Monday caught key senators by surprise- notably California Democrat Dianne Feinstein, the incoming Intelligence Committee chairwoman.

Mr. Obama didn't consult either Feinstein or Sen. John D. Rockefeller, the outgoing chairman, about his unusual choice- something a committee official said should have happened both for protocol and politics. Both Feinstein and Rockefeller also questioned Panetta's lack of intelligence-gathering experience.

Mr. Obama called Feinstein and apologized Tuesday, her office confirmed. In a separate statement, Feinstein noted that she had been called by both Mr. Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden, but she expressed no support for Panetta, a fellow California political veteran.

"They have explained to me the reasons why they believe Leon Panetta is the best candidate for CIA director," Feinstein said, adding only that she looked forward to "speaking with Mr. Panetta about the critical issues facing the intelligence community and his plans to address them."

Meeting with reporters in the U.S. Capitol Tuesday, Biden said the Obama team made a "mistake" in not consulting with top Senate officials before choosing Panetta. Biden said the lapse was a process mistake, but he praised the selection of Panetta, calling the Californian a "strong figure" for the CIA who would "take it on a new path."

Senate Democrats on Tuesday were reluctant to identify any missteps and openly challenge their former colleague's handling of the Panetta nomination. At the same time, members of the Intelligence Committee - still smarting from their limited access during Bush's tenure - seemed to want to put the incoming administration on notice that they want to be kept in the loop.

"He is the president. He is entitled to make these decisions," said Sen. Evan Bayh, of Mr. Obama. But having said that, Bayh later joked, "call me next time."

Mr. Obama was quick to brush off concerns voiced by Feinstein and Rockefeller about Panetta's lack of intelligence experience. Instead, Mr. Obama focused on Panetta's stints as an administrator during the Clinton administration, when he served as budget director and later as White House chief of staff.

"I have the utmost respect for Leon Panetta," Mr. Obama said Tuesday. "I think that he is one of the finest public servants that we've had. He brings extraordinary management skills, great political savvy, an impeccable record of integrity. As chief of staff to the president, he is somebody who obviously was fully versed in international affairs crisis management, and had to evaluate intelligence consistently on a day-to-day basis."

"We are putting together a top-notch intelligence team" that will "ensure that I get the best possible intelligence, unvarnished," he added.

Mr. Obama said Americans will see "a team that is committed to breaking with some of the past practices and concerns that have, I think, tarnished the image of the agencies, the intelligence agencies, as well as U.S. foreign policy."

He also praised the intelligence officers working at the CIA and in other agencies, calling them "outstanding." The comment appears to be Mr. Obama's signal that he is drawing a line between controversial Bush policies, such as harsh interrogations, extraordinary rendition, secret prisons, and warrantless wiretapping, and the agencies he directed to carry them out.

Former CIA director John McLaughlin told The Associated Press from London Monday that he supported Panetta's nomination because of his management experience, judgment and understanding of Washington, which he called excellent qualities for a CIA director.

"It's important that he turn to the professionals in the building and not show up with a coterie of people aiming to turn the place upside down - but I think he'll be smart enough to avoid that pitfall," McLaughlin said.

Panetta is not an obvious choice for the CIA job. Despite his years in Congress and in White House posts, Panetta has no intelligence gathering or analysis experience.

Hours after Panetta's name surfaced Monday, Feinstein expressed pointed skepticism about Panetta's qualifications. So did Missouri Sen. Kit Bond, the ranking Republican on the committee.

Feinstein was far more supportive of Mr. Obama's selection of Blair to be national intelligence director and promised in a statement issued Tuesday to get him a swift confirmation hearing and vote.

Bayh said he has not spoken with anyone on Mr. Obama's transition team about Panetta's nomination. But he said he planned to call Panetta and recommend that the former politico, if confirmed, keep Steve Kappes as deputy director of the CIA. Panetta can push for fresh policy, while Kappes can provide the experience, Bayh said.

[hatesthecolt]

Hakori wrote This isn''''t a change for the worse. It means we will once again abid by international law and not stoop to the tactics of terrorists.

In addition, interrogators do not believe you get good intelligence from torturing. That''s probably the best reason of all not to use it.

[misha128-2009]

Posted by TexHillGirl at 09:31 AM : Jan 07, 2009

news from the Right Wing lunatic fringe today Rowdy --

How pathetic.

[nanc12]

Despite an internal list of former and current CIA officials who had impressive administrative credentials, Panetta was selected, in large part, because he comes from outside the intelligence world. Posted by Rowdy

Current and former officials with impressive credentials - and the added bonus of being there when ''faulty intelligence'' according to Bush, was given about wmd''s, and who approved the use of torture. Yeah, that''s impressive, alright.

Panetta has the experience of being in on daily intelligence briefings, and none of the baggage of someone from inside the CIA. Obama is definitely showing that his presidency will not be one of torture and breach of freedoms.

Feinstein & Rockefeller sat by and did nothing - and Obama letting them find out about this pick like the rest of us is sheer brilliance.

[hatesthecolt]

TexSkank you really are an idiot. The JOHNS HOPKINS IPS is a nonprofit research and education on public policy problems in Washington. It''s membership includes as one of its senior scholars, Bill Fletcher, is a former CIA career officer who teaches at University of Kansas. Yeah, that''s a real cutthroat bunch there. Stop doing research on the internet at loose cannon websites. You get inaccurate or flat out wrong information.

[hatesthecolt]

BillRich11, yeah yelling screaming and calling names is certainly the adult way to approach problems especially when you don''t know what you''re talking about.

[louiville2]

Ok, judging from some of the conservative posters here, thye seem to have a problem with Panetta because they think he doesn''''t have the credentials. I suppose they thought Bush''''s aponitees were all well suited for their jobs...."heckava job Browine". If President Obama thinks Panetta is qualified, I trust his judgement. Judgement...good judgement...now that''''s something we haven''''t seen in Washington in a long time. As for Feinstein and Rockefeller, they knew about the crimes the current adminstration were perpetrating and did nothing. They can put their dunce hats on and go to the cornor with the republicans and keep their mouths shut for all I care.

Posted by Hakori at 08:09 AM

AHAHAHA but we were promised change! We all thought it was going to be change for the BETTER not worse. Like Osama will cars about a touchy feely CIA director, Get ready for the "TEST" that Biden promised hopefully it will be your city not mine that that''s hit.

[billrich11]

I am getting so tired of people shooting their mouths off about Panetta''''s "lack of intelligence experience" ...
Posted by hatesthecolt at 09:13 AM : Jan 07, 2009

=====================


If you are, then take a hint and leave BabyPonyHater.

For I can assure you none of the real Americans on here give a friggin hang nail what any of you NObama worshipping, left wing pinko, un-American libturds are "tired" of.

Do you un-American POS truly believe us real Americans are gonna sit by quietly as we watch you and your suckbuddies destroy our nation.

[billrich11]

I am getting so tired of people shooting their mouths off about Panetta''''s "lack of intelligence experience" ...
Posted by hatesthecolt at 09:13 AM : Jan 07, 2009

=====================


If you are, then take a hint and leave BabyPonyHater.

For I can assure you none of the real Americans on here give a friggin hang nail what any of you NObama worshipping, left wing pinko, un-American libturds are "tired" of.

Do you un-American POS truly believe us real Americans are gonna sit by quietly as we watch you and your suckbuddies destroy our nation.

[hatesthecolt]

I am getting so tired of people shooting their mouths off about Panetta''s "lack of intelligence experience" like (a) most political appointees have hands-on experience in any of the fields they serve in and (b) an outsider is not exactly what the CIA needs. CIA has been broken for along time due in large part to the fact that they are COMPLETELY inbred. The fact is that the combination of ADM Blair and GEN Jones (experienced military men with plenty of knowledge about intelligence) and Leon Panetta (a politically savvy manager) will hopefully be able to force the kind of internal change of mindset that CIA needs to become useful again.

[bustardo]

While I disagree with this and most of Obama''s other selections, Feinstein should not get her knickers in a twist. If she has reservations, that is what the confirmation process is for.

[afsc30574]

Jimmy Carter 2.0 has arrived

[renojmc]

God help us. Obama must not be serious about protecting us from terrorist if he nominates Panetta, who has no experience in the intelligence field.

If this is sort of malfeasance and incompetence that we can expect from Obama, his presidency will be dead on arrival.

[louiville2]

Panetta hardly the sharpest tool in the Clinton shed. I wonder if Obama can pick his nose or is the democrats helping him with that??

[standlee5]

Mr. Obama does realize that this isn''t Mr. Roger''s Neighborhood. Doesn''t he?

[standlee5]

What''s there to defend. The guy''s not qualified and neither is obama. So there you go.

[ausus-2009]

Noting that Obama has picked someone who interest is health as Secretary of State, someone with an interest in diplomacy as Secretary of Commerce (now withdrawn)and someone with no background in intelligence to head the CIA, I am surprised he didn''t pick a banker to be Surgeon General.

[powercan1]

Obama could not pick a ripe apple-he is a joke.Obama and the democrat controled congress will bring this country down and tax you badly-they want all these programs,where will the money come from and a 1 trillion stimulus package OMG-only the fat cats-ceo''s got rich off of it and the government does not even know where the money went and now Obama and the democrats in control,look out america.Obama does not know enough to be president,heck he never voted in congress,I dread the next four years and our nations dept will grow like a weed-the gop did not do there job on that and we know how dems like to spend and tax and Obama will let America''s military power go down hill and think he can talk with the leaders of terrorist countries-what a joke,he can talk smooth,but that''s all he can do.He''s a pure socialist,globalist who want our nation to go by UN rules backed by George Soros who want no citizen of any country to own a gun.The UN is a joke and wish they would move it out of America.Obama wants to build,road,bridges etc-heck the illegal mexicans will be doing that.Obuma the great socialist-take from the rich and give to the poor,mainly the ones who don''t want to work,the inner city criminals who do not try to better themselves.He will start out with adding a 1 trillion dollar dept that he think will bring this country around.I do not care for this anti gun man at all.He has pick some losers for his cabinet,ex Clition people for one thing-wheres the change.

[hatesthecolt]

The word being put out now is that Obama purposely bypassed Feinstein and Rockefeller because both were aware of and therefore tacitly blessed the torture policy. so that''s why she''s P.O.ed. If true, and it probably is, she needs to look in the mirror.

[dburfears]

I''m so sick of DiFi. Can''t California elect someone who isn''t so completely wrapped up in Washington politics and out of touch with the people?

[hatesthecolt]

He doesn''t need analysis or ops experience to do what needs to be done at CIA which is start making them responsible for their actions and no longer allowing them to hide behind classification and clearances.