Letter to the editor:

Give Obama a chance in these trying times

Frank Musaraca, Henderson

Thu, Jan 8, 2009 (2:03 a.m.)

The latest pseudo-controversial media subject of discussion has arisen: Our new president may be right or he may be wrong in his selection of Leon Panetta as CIA chief. But couldn’t we, too, be right or wrong in our selection of Barack Obama, and the same with George W. Bush and Dick Cheney? Get the picture? That last duo and their greedy cohorts ran the country all right — right into the proverbial ground.

According to all of the latest media attempts to dissect everything our president-elect has said or done since November, nearly all moves have met rousing public approval, save his CIA selection. And, really, the results of that choice remain to be seen, just as our choice of Obama remains to be seen.

In making Cabinet selections, he is surrounding himself with the most talented, able and politically sophisticated managers and advisers this country has to offer, and he is boldly crossing the aisle to do it. We must agree though that in the process of transition, some closets need cleaning. In making our decision to agree or disagree with his CIA choice, shouldn’t we allow for the possibility that some top-heavy agencies have been too powerful, and may need some “fresh blood” to put them back on the right track?

Regardless of our party affiliations, we should support every selection the man we elected to make those decisions makes. This includes his attempts to clean out the closets that may need cleaning. It is in our best interest to give him a chance because we have placed our complete trust in him by electing him our 44th president, and he has inherited some of the dirtiest closets our country has ever seen.

Discussion: 5 comments so far…

By JohnF

1/8/09 at 8:09 a.m.

Suggest removal

The CIA needs an outsider to take charge if the investigstions into torture and rendition are to have any teeth or credibility. Panetta is an excellent choice.

That being said, people who object to this appointment, or any other appointment that the President-elect has made, are right to voice their objections. A loyal opposition is essential for democracy. Blindly supporting those in charge is what led to the creation of "the dirtiest closets our country has ever seen."
By jfnance32

1/8/09 at 8:16 a.m.

Suggest removal

"The CIA needs an outsider to take charge if the investigstions into torture and rendition are to have any teeth or credibility. Panetta is an excellent choice."

Uhhhh...Leon worked for Clinton who started the program of rendition to return captured terrorists to countries, like Egypt, that toture.
By Houstonjac

1/8/09 at 8:38 a.m.

Suggest removal

As a Republican, I have been pleased with most of the choices that Barack Obama has made in his new Administration. I have always trusted the judgement of Panetta, and have no problem with his appointment. The main problem that raised the hackles of some was the lack of communications with Democrat Senate people.
Having an outsider like Panetta who is a solid manager is a good thing for the CIA in my opinion. On the other hand I am tired of the Bush bashing--the man dealt with more "100 year
storms" than most any President, faced them down, and when he was wrong, changed course. He has treated President Elect Obama and his family with immense respect, which is more than can be said for the classless Clintonites when they were exiting the White House.
By Future2012

1/8/09 at 3:58 p.m.

Suggest removal

We have no idea what we are getting in Leon Panetta.

Democrats dissembled the intelligence community during the Clinton years when Leon Panetta was chief of staff.

Now that Bush has started to build it back up post 9/11, Leon Panetta is back to eliminate it.

Will Leon Panetta listen to people like Eric Holder and David Glazier, and initiate a war crime probe for three post 9/11 water boarding integrations in 2001.

He will go back to his days with Sandy Berger, Richard Clark, Tony Lake and continue their efforts to reduce the spooks on the ground in foreign counties and kill FISA.

Will he hire Valerie Elise Plame Wilson, Joseph C.Wilson or Tomas Tamm

The first change that has been promised is the elimination of interrogations.

Panetta has been quoted as saying that terrorist should not experience any "discomfort" when being questioned. That means no music, temperature swing, intense or prolonged questioning, isolation, etc.

Leon does not have the warrior ethos to credibility lead the CIA.

But what does Leon know
Clinton/ Panetta were the initiator of the program of rendition to send captured terrorist to countries that torture

The CIA watchdog report, completed in June 2005 and kept classified until 2007, indicates that the CIA's analysis of Al Qaeda before Sept. 2001 was lacking.

Today even Clinton's freewheeling FISA foreign intelligence Echelon data gold mining of the late 90's is under attack (Echelon http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/0......) .

Of particular note is the reduction on spooks on the ground was a significant loss of information. Hence there is major reduction in information reliability and credibility because you can only source with electronic surveillance like Echelon data gold mining.

In July of 2004 Tomas Tamm a Justice Department lawyer gave classified information to the NYT on the Bush version of the Echelon wiretap program.
By LV_Tom

1/9/09 at 4:06 p.m.

Suggest removal

We don't need to give Obama a chance. The Left wing, radical, anti-american mainstream media will cover for him.......... just like they did during the election....... and of course it's Bush's fault