Obama’s pick for CIA head demands full explanation

Had anyone suggested before Monday that President-elect Barack Obama was considering an individual with no formal background in the intelligence arena to head up the Central Intelligence Agency, the reaction would have been one of disbelief.

And that’s exactly how the news of Leon Panetta’s selection has been received. Panetta, a former White House chief of staff in Bill Clinton’s administration, was on no one’s radar — other than Obama’s.

Indeed, in trying to counter the argument that Panetta does not have experience in the intelligence field, Obama’s operatives pointed to George Herbert Walker Bush’s tenure as CIA director. Bush, who went on to become president, was appointed by Gerald Ford.

That comparison shows just how unconventional the decision was and how many questions it prompts.

The president-elect went before reporters Friday and formally unveiled his intelligence team: Retired Adm. Dennis Blair as the national intelligence director and Leon Panetta to head the CIA.

The truth

During the campaign, the Obama made it clear that major changes were needed in the spy agency, especially in the way intelligence is presented to the president — the truth, as opposed to what the agency believes the president wants to hear.

He obviously believes Panetta is best-suited to accomplish the goals he has set out.

The new president is also expected to push for the closing of the jail at Guantanamo Bay and to focus on the CIA’s interrogation procedures. He remains opposed to the United States using torture as an interrogation tool — a position shared by Panetta.

Obama’s selection of the former eight-term congressman from California and director of Bill Clinton’s Office of Management and Budget was met with disbelief and harsh criticism from some in the intelligence community and with anger from more than a few Democratic members of Congress. The reason: Obama failed to give a heads up to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who will chair the Senate Intelligence Committee, and former Intelligence Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va.

Both initially expressed doubts about Panetta’s ability to take over an agency in which turf wars are the norm. In addition, the CIA has traditionally been suspicious of outsiders.

By midweek, Feinstein had voiced her support for her friend from California, while Rockefeller still had not said whether he will support the nomination.

While there is no law that requires the head of the Central Intelligence Agency to come from within the ranks, the specialized nature of the work performed by analysts and operatives does necessitate more than a cursory understanding of the agency’s work and goals.

Old hand

There’s no doubt Panetta has intimate knowledge of the workings of the federal government, but it isn’t clear how that translates into leading an agency that has been under intense pressure following the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the Gitmo and torture controversies.

In standing firm on Panetta’s selection, Obama must make the case to Congress and also persuade the America people that he isn’t placing some political hack in a position of great importance.

The president-elect has received high marks for the people he has named to cabinet and subcabinet positions, which is why the Panetta pick has been met with such derision.