By nominating Leon Panetta to head the CIA, President-elect Barack Obama has confirmed fears that he, and Democrats in general, are not capable of applying sufficient priority to the war on terror and national security because they simply do not understand the gravity involved.
Obama's appointment even caught Senator Diane Feinstein off guard and riled the California Democrat who complained, "I was not informed about the selection of Leon Panetta to be the CIA director," Feinstein said. "My position has consistently been that I believe the agency is best served by having an intelligence professional in charge at this time."
Nearly everyone on both sides of the aisle agree that Panetta is a capable manager and amicable fellow who can work well with both Democrats and Republicans.
Nonetheless, Panetta's absolute lack of experience in the intelligence profession can be a comfort only to terrorists and evil doers intent on doing America harm.
Coming on the heels of the spill over from the Rod Blagojevich scandal, the botched Richardson nomination, and the stalled economic stimulus package, the President-elect seems to be begging the question: "Is Barack Obama really ready for Prime Time?"
What, for example, would happen if, God forbid, another terrorist attack should happen on American soil while Panetta is CIA Director? What possible defense would the president have for placing a an individual without professional intelligence experience in such an important position?
More naive picks like Leon Panetta will most likely bring the new president considerable grief and expose the American people to unacceptable danger.
John W. Lillpop is a recovering liberal. “Clean and sober” since 1992 when last he voted for a Democrat. For years, John lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, the very liberal sanctuary city which protects, rather than prosecutes, certain favored criminals. John escaped the Bay Area in May and now lives in Pine Grove California where conservative values are still in vogue.
