In a nation already suspicious of its intelligence agencies, is it wise to appoint a former Clinton crony as Director of Central Intelligence?
Well, two Democratic officials leaked the story that President-elect Barack Obama has chosen former Clinton White House chief of staff Leon Panetta to run the CIA, according to Los Angeles' newsradio KNX.
Panetta is a surprise pick for the post, with no experience in the intelligence world and a reputation as a "dirty-tricks" maven when he worked for President Bill Clinton.
An Obama transition official and another Democrat disclosed his nomination on a condition of anonymity since it was not yet public, according to KNX.
Panetta was director the Office of Management and Budget in the Clinton Administration, Clinton's chief of staff, and a left-wing congressman from California known for his pitbull demeanor.
He served on the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan panel that released a report at the end of 2006 with dozens of recommendations for reversing course in the Iraq war and an avid foe of the Bush Administration.
Panetta currently directs the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, based at California State University - Monterey Bay, an institution of higher learning he helped establish.
During the McCain-Obama presidential race, Panetta is quoted as saying, "It's the economy, stupid. People are deeply worried about the economic future of their families and the nation. It is the candidate who honestly addresses this crisis that has the best chance of winning. Voters want to vote their hopes, not their fears. Obama gets it. McCain cannot 'turn the page' on the biggest issue of this campaign."
Now Panetta will possibly be on the front-line of the war on terrorism as the top man at the Central Intelligence agency, something that reportedly infuriates Democrat Senator Diane Feinstein of California, according to Fox News Channel.
During the Clinton scandal, Human Events said this about Panetta:
"The media has lost count of all the shills the Clintons have sent out to do their dirty work with the press and the talk shows, from Leon Panetta and Lanny Davis to David Kendall and Jim Carville. There is no end to the line of opportunists prepared to face the public in defense of a rogue President and a corrupt administration."
Mark my words: Panetta will turn the CIA into Obama's secret police.
Jim Kouri, CPP, is founder and CEO of Kouri Associates, a homeland security, public safety and political consulting firm. He’s formerly Fifth Vice-President, now a Board Member of the National Association of Chiefs of Police, an editor for ConservativeBase.com, a columnist for Examiner.com, a contributor to KGAB radio news, and news director for NewswithViews.com.
He’s former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed “Crack City” by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at St. Peter’s University and director of security for several major organizations. He’s also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country.
Kouri appears regularly as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Fox News Channel, Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, etc.
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