How did someone like Leon Panetta, former chief of staff in the Clinton administration, with no career background in intelligence, get tapped to be the new director of the Central Intelligence Agency?
He earned it -- in a number of ways, but especially when he recently wrote this in the Atlantic Monthly:
We have preached these values to the world. We have made clear that there are certain lines Americans will not cross because we respect the dignity of every human being. That pledge was written into the oath of office given to every president, "to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution." It's what is supposed to make our leaders different from every tyrant, dictator, or despot. We are sworn to govern by the rule of law, not by brute force.
We cannot simply suspend these beliefs in the name of national security. Those who support torture may believe that we can abuse captives in certain select circumstances and still be true to our values. But that is a false compromise. We either believe in the dignity of the individual, the rule of law, and the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment, or we don't. There is no middle ground.
We cannot and we must not use torture under any circumstances. We are better than that.
God knows the Obama team has had a couple of swings and misses here in the transition, and a big whiff with the Bill Richardson, but late in the game they're hit a home run with this selection and with his late appointments to the Justice Department, all of whom seem committed to human rights and to the Constitution.
Panetta's words show he truly wants to bring change to the intelligence community, and his experience as a top governmental official who understands the kind of information that's useful to the White House should help him carry it out. He's not a career spy? So what? We don't pick a career military person, generally, as Secretary of Defense, so maybe the CIA should be treated the same way.
Look at George H.W. Bush, who ran the CIA in 1975-76 and had their building named after him -- he wasn't a career spy (was he?). I just wish that all of Obama's Cabinet choices had sent as clear a signal as this one.
Comment removed.
Bush's job as DCI in the 70s was to protect the Agency from the inquisitive Church commission, which he did quite well. Any one who understands the CIA realizes that the Director is window dressing anyway.- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
Bush had Brown running FEMA and we know how well that went. Now we are turning the CIA over to a guy with the same amount of prior experience. Buckle up folks, this is going to be a rough ride!— Norton- Comment removed.
- The vast majority of folks in the intelligence community concur that torture is ineffective and counterproductive. Simply being against totrue isn't a qualifying criteria for heading the CIA. That said, direct experience with intelligence agencies doesn't need to be a defining criteria either - although it would be a help. What else about Panetta's experience would make him qualified? Without such qualifications, the Republican toadies would be right on this one, Will - the appointment would be cronyism. Cronyism is bad policy.— Talking point sleuth
b.atkinson, the Democrats are not circulating a CD with the song "Barack the Magic Negro" on it, so give it a rest.— Hamlet- [Insert childish argumentum ad hominem here] Hey, at least it will get posted.— Hamlet
- Comment removed.
- Off topic - but have I whined yet today about how unfair everything is? I mean Americans are soooooo stupid that they've been fooled by the vast left-wing media conspiracy. Republicans are treated soooooo unfairly. They never get called on by the teacher. They never get the good cookies during snack time. The teachers never always cut their naps short. It's just sooooooo unfair, Will. It's just sooooooo unfair.— Talking point sleuth
- Comment removed.
“President-elect Obama made a commitment to change the way Washington does business, and the vetting process exemplifies that,” said Stephanie Cutter, chief spokeswoman for the Obama transition office. IN THE WORDS OF A DOONESBURY CLASSIC "I GUESS THERE A STILL A FEW FLAWS IN THE SYSTEM"— bird11- And the terrorists breathe a sigh of relief...— MiddleNameHussein
- " The teachers never always cut their naps short. It's just sooooooo unfair, Will. It's just sooooooo unfair" Stop sucking up to Bunch and try to make a salient point. I agree with bpphilly, simply disagreeing with your logic doesn't qualifiy as whining, but constantly beating this silly toadie drum is getting old.— Norton
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
E-mail Will by clicking here.
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