General David Petraeus To Head CIA

Via Talking Points Memo, U.S. Army General David Petraeus will become the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Petraeus has been serving as the head of military operations in Afghanistan.

According to Reuters, the decision could have been influenced by a growing discontent among Republicans with their choices for Presidential candidates, and a possible “draft Petraeus” effort in the wings.

Before word of the reshuffle broke, some Washington insiders suggested a Petraeus-for-Panetta swap could come as Obama gears up his 2012 re-election campaign.

They suggested the White House wanted a high-profile position for Petraeus to ensure he would not be tapped by Republicans to challenge Obama.

Current CIA director Leon Panetta will be nominated for Secretary of Defense. All pending changes will require Senate confirmation.

Read more: cia, david petraeus, politics

Photo by US Army/Spc. Eric Bartelt (http://images.recordonline.com/) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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Donna T.

9:05AM PDT on May 4, 2011

god, if FRUSTRATION were gold, we'd all be rich ... we are talking about turning around "the Queen Mary" ship on a dime .... not going to happen ....

We are now a very impatient population ... that is not a compliment! ....

We need to WATCH closely ... both the workings of the CIA and the Defense Department ....

That's what we are here to do ... monitor the choices of our goverment ... not pre-judge ...

Patience is a virtue ... and, admittedly, there is a reason my Mother did not name me "Patience" ....

Still ..... too quick to judge ... too quick to truly understand ...

Thanks, all for this wonderful opportunity to communicate!'

No spell check, so you get what you get!!

Donna Tessaro

send a green star

Lois J.

5:49PM PDT on Apr 29, 2011

Oh boy! DC version of Musical Chairs--"who will be left standing when the music stops"? I voted for Obama--took my college-aged kids to vote, too--but continuing the "Bush standard" that was set for torture, rendition, Gitmo, drones, unending, expensive wars...gee, won't it ever end? Where is the "new blood" and change? I'm ready for a "real" third party--(maybe, "Progressive Patriots")? We can encompass conservatives who are fed up with Wall St. Banksters, Geithner and Bernanke, and the system set up by the Fed. who also support continuing Soc. Sec. as well as Progressives who "hoped for change."....Just a thought.

Kathleen D.

1:11PM PDT on Apr 29, 2011

General Petraeus is a good man and I'm pleased Leon Panetta will step into the Secretary of Defense position. It's obvious, the winds of change have taken place within the Obama administration it seems with better advisors giving far better advice to President Obama. Hopefully, the trend will continue and lead the Democrats to a huge majoritarian democracy in 2012. Let's make sure that happens!

8:29AM PDT on Apr 29, 2011

Of course if Fareed Zaccaria were available for ANY POSITION, I would choose him. He's steady, objective, a great reporter ....Um ... can you be in government and maintain his kind of objectivity?

Donna

Ron G.

11:35PM PDT on Apr 28, 2011

I would rather have Fareed Zaccaria.

Marie W.

9:33PM PDT on Apr 28, 2011

General Betray Us is a political action figure- not a military leader.

8:40PM PDT on Apr 28, 2011

What a crock of Sht, same ole same ole will it ever stop

Robert O.

6:58PM PDT on Apr 28, 2011

Appropriate; a rogue general to head a rogue agency.

Ronald E.