Comments on: Obama Picks Ever-Solid Centrist Panetta To Head CIA

By: JSpencer

JSpencer — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:18:36 +0000

The first comment in the Redstate link refers to Obama as “Obamunist”, which pretty well describes the stage for mush of what comes from that site. I'll reserve judgement on Panetta for now, although his stance against torture and his record of competence certainly give him points.

By: NoMoreSpook

NoMoreSpook — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:22:17 +0000

I Met briefly with Mr. Panetta while I was working in the intelligence community and was impressed mostly with his ability to see intelligence as not just a means of monitoring and ultimately defeating enemies but as a broader and more global enterprise in which information could be exchanged in a manner that bred trust between international communities and organizations. Walterjessse is exactly right about what intelligence has come to mean since the inception of the CIA with it's winner take all mentality.

By: walterjesse

walterjesse — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:52:12 +0000

It is very refreshing to see Panetta tapped to head the CIA. It is entirely beside the point that he has “little hands on” experience with bureacratic “Intelligence.” In the interest of being a forthright citizen, one must add that, as far as can be known of the history of the CIA since its inception, intelligence of any sort has been far from the top priorities of that organization. Even its title is almost pure euphemism, given what the CIA's managers and operatives do. Though I have had no official ties to the CIA, I speak from experience. The organization does, more or less well — depending upon how one judges (with what theoretical lenses) — whatever the respective administration asks it to do outside the law. For legal projects, there are plenty of other organizations to do the job. Perhaps Panetta can make sense of what limits we should post upon those outside-the-law activities the agency so fondly cultivates but which also create a growing blowback for the entire USA that undermines our international political, economic, and social capital.