Obama taps Panetta to run CIA

[The Straight Story]

Obama taps Panetta to run CIA
By Nedra Pickler, Associated Press January 5, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - Two Democratic officials say President-elect Barack Obama has chosen former Clinton White House chief of staff Leon Panetta to run the CIA.

Panetta was a surprise pick for the post, with no experience in the intelligence world. An Obama transition official and another Democrat disclosed his nomination on a condition of anonymity since it was not yet public.

Panetta was director of the Office of Management and Budget and a longtime congressman from California.

He served on the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan panel that released a report at the end of 2006 with dozens of recommendations for the reversing course in the Iraq war.

Panetta currently directs with his wife Sylvia the Leon & Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy, based at California State University, Monterey Bay, a university he helped establish on the site of the former U.S. Army base, Fort Ord.

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=41717&dcn=todaysnews

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. Panetta is smart

One of the smartest guys ever to hit DC. This is a really great choice. Brilliant. Panetta is a great guy.

[Kahuna]

2. ...

:applause: