Comments on: Obama Names Leon Panetta as CIA Director

By: John Hitchcock

John Hitchcock — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:05:10 +0000

Neo, that allusion is even better than my Maxwell Smart or Hong Kong Phooey thoughts.

By: Neo

Neo — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:55:18 +0000

What's the big deal. Leon gradgiated the 5th grade and can probably cypher. That's all it takes to be a double naught spy.

By: Stu707

Stu707 — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:34:01 +0000

#31

The Church hearings and the Turner era were surely detrimental. But the failures of US intelligence community have a deeper cause. For the sorry details read Spying Blind The CIA The FBI and the Origins of 9-11, by Amy Zegart.

By: Mike K

Mike K — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:06:40 +0000

The one reassuring fact is that the CIA is essentially useless since Turner laid off the Department of Operations in the post-Church hearings era. Read Legacy of Ashes is you doubt that. It's only function now is political intrigue.

By: AD

AD — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:40:48 +0000

Comment by cubanbob — 1/5/2009 @ 11:19 pm

Panetta’s control of the ‘rats at the CIA will be a test of Rolodex power:
Who has the best contacts at the NYT &/or WaPo?
Panetta, or the countless number of “anon sources”.

By: The Dana who apprecited y'all helping him annoy the Delaware Liberals!

The Dana who apprecited y'all helping him annoy the Delaware Liberals! — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:56:52 +0000

I know that our esteemed host doesn't go in very big for these things, but Patterico's Pontifications was (again) nominated as the best large blog. You can vote here. Our host won't campaign -- I don't think -- but please, please, please help him to at least beat out Amanda Marcotte's Pandagon!

By: LarryD

LarryD — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:30:10 +0000

Panetta’s job is to make sure the CIA cabal doesn’t sideswipe Obama like it has been Bush.

By: Scott Jacobs

Scott Jacobs — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:24:36 +0000

*gives two big thumbs up*

I have nothing but good feelings about this, and believe that nothing can go wrong.

By: PCD

PCD — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:10:04 +0000

By naming Panetta, Obama is admitting that no one with any experience and credibility is not buying into Obama’s “Bravo Sierra” and therefore Obama can’t find a good nominee.

By: The very relieved Dana

The very relieved Dana — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:06:16 +0000

daleyrocks wrote:

What could go wrong? Obama is ushering in an era of world peace according to his supporters so it’s not exactly like we’ll need the CIA anymore or anything. If there are any trouble spots in the world, Obama will just sit down and talk to the parties involved, with no preconditions, and the problems will be solved. I see no issues here.

Well, of course he's right! [slapping forehead!]