Barack Obama reshuffles his deck of political leaders
As a method of infusing new and very capable people to the top three posts in U.S. Government (other than the Presidency itself), Obama announced he will move some members around that are part of both his intelligence and defense teams. The three in line are among Washington DC’s most tested and proven public servants. This shuffle comes about as a result of a need to scale back our efforts on two wars (Afghanistan and Iraq) even as the U.S. seems to be virtually at the onset of yet a third confrontation in Libya.
Considered to be “battle tested” and the best of the best are Leon Panetta, who has been Director of the CIA since February of 2009. He will move to the position of Secretary of the Defense once the current Secretary (Robert Gates) retires. Once this takes place David Petraeus will become the new Director of the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency).
The man who held the post of chief diplomat in Iraq, Ryan Crocker, will be installed in Kabul as new ambassador to Afghanistan. Lieutenant General John Allen is to be the next military commander in Kabul. John Allen is currently the deputy commander of the U.S. Central Command.
General David H. Petraeus, due to leave Afghanistan in early September of 2011, will be expected to take over the helm at the CIA around that time. Petraeus has been commander of forces deployed in Afghanistan since July 4, 2010 with the title of NATO International Security Assistance Force or ISAF as well as U.S. Forces in Afghanistan or USFOR-A. Previous to that post he spent nearly two years as the United States Central Command Commander.
These men each have extensive experience in diplomatic as well as military relations and seem well qualified for their vital new positions. These leadership changes are in preparation for the planned withdrawal of our troops from Iraq, which should occur by end of 2011. Plans are also to leave Afghanistan later this summer. Time will tell how quickly progress will be seen.
