Petraeus to CIA, Panetta to DoD

[Bonestorm]

Musical chairs. Wheeeeeeeeee!:

WASHINGTON — President Obama is expected this week to name Leon E. Panetta, the director of central intelligence, as defense secretary and Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top American commander in Afghanistan, as director of the C.I.A., administration officials said Wednesday.

The appointments, set in motion by the impending retirement of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, are part of a significant rearrangement of Mr. Obama’s national security team that will include several new assignments within the closest circle of his diplomatic, military and intelligence advisers.

Mr. Gates is expected to step down this summer.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/us/28team.html?hp

 

[Minister of Truth]

Will Patreus retain his military rank, or will he be retired and attain civilian status?

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

Musical chairs. Wheeeeeeeeee!:




http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/us/28team.html?hp

I imagine Moveon.org will begin taking out ads in the Times to cry out 'General Betrayus leading the CIA.... FOR SHAME!'

 

[Bonestorm]

Will Patreus retain his military rank, or will he be retired and attain civilian status?

Not sure. How'd it work with Hayden? I don' think he is required to retire to hold the position.

 

[Minister of Truth]

Yep, I believe Admiral Hayden was allowed to maintain his Naval rank and still run the department. I'm curious as to why Bush and Obama want to appoint general officers to these positions, except that they might think it will help the flow of information between the civilian intelligence agencies and the service branch intelligence agencies. You'd think these guys would jump at the chance to retire and then get on the civil government payroll, though, the way a lot of civilian contractors do.