The Obama Administration National Security shuffle

The time will soon arrive when the Obama Administration will have to look at replacements for those in the top jobs of the national security team.  We all have heard and know that Defense Secretary Roberts Gates is looking to retire.  We know that Admiral Mike Mullens time as Joint Chief of Staff is coming to an end and we have heard rumors of CIA Director Leon Panetta may be headed to greener pastures.  Well according to Barbara Starr of CNN in her article titled Big changes to come on Obama's national security team these rumors and speculations are now put to rest.

Ms. Starr article states that “the Obama administration is considering Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, as the next possible CIA director, CIA Director Leon Panetta is one of the people high on the list to replace Gates as defense chief and Admiral Mike Mullen's deputy, Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright had been widely seen as the front-runner to replace him.”  While I am no expert in this field and do not know any of these people personally, I can say that it seems like some solid picks to me.  Petraeus would be able to transform the CIA into more of a military operation which would clear up the chain of command and slowly but surely root out the “lone wolves” which sometimes can slick into this organization and destroy it from within.  Because he has the military mind, intelligence may finally mean intelligence and when it is received on the battlefield, it can finally be believed.  Recently and in the past, field operatives depending on intelligence was often surprised to find that it really wasn’t.  With Panetta going into the defense chief’s job, he brings a serious knowledge of the politics that many see necessary for this title. 

Personally, I think the need for politically savvy is totally over-rated.  To be able to tell congress what it wants to hear without offending them is too much like having no spine to me.  I think that Congress functions better and the people are more comfortable with some one who will speak frankly and honestly about the subject.  Contrary to popular belief that can be done without offending, it’s called tact.  Just a thought.

Related articles can be found on www.mannsmedium.blogspot.com.

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