National Security Team Gets Reshuffled by President Obama

The American people will soon see a leadership shuffle related to the U.S. national security team. On Thursday, President Obama hosted a press conference to announce changes at the highest levels of the posts that are responsible for American security and current military strategy.

The new lineup will be similar to a game of musical chairs. CIA Director Leon Panetta will become the Secretary of Defense. U.S. commander in Afghanistan David Petraeus will take the helm at the CIA. Ryan Crocker, a former diplomat, will become the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan. Also, Marine Lt. Gen. John Allen will take over Petraeus’s role as commander in Afghanistan.

In the White House press conference, President Obama expressed his confidence in the new team and stressed the importance of having the right people in place for these roles.

“Given the pivotal period that we’re entering into, I felt it was absolutely critical that we have this team in place so we can stay focused on our mission,” President Obama said from the East Room.

“I cannot think of a group of individuals better suited to lead our national security team during this difficult time,” he added.

As rumors swirled in Washington, D.C. about an impending shake-up, there was careful consideration by the White House of skills of the each of the candidates for their new roles.

For instance, Panetta’s many years of experience running the intelligence agency will be an asset as he deals with coming budget cuts at the Department of Defense. Also, his experience will offer further insight on the intelligence needed to keep America safe as it executes three wars in the Middle East and North Africa.

Similarly, Gen. Petraeus’s experience in the field in Afghanistan will bring a fresh perspective to the CIA and how it can better deliver and use intelligence in its many missions.

About Petraeus’s appointment in particular, President Obama said, “As a lifelong consumer of intelligence, he knows that intelligence must be timely, accurate and acted upon quickly.”

Each of the new positions must face confirmation in the U.S. Senate. President Obama would like them to be approved before the end of June when the current Secretary of Defense Robert Gates retires.

Matt E. Stevens is the creator and chief blogger of Prune Juice Media. The site takes a sarcastic and informative look at the issues of the day – namely politics and current affairs. The goal of the site is to share information and make people laugh, or at least think. Matt is a contributing writer for Politic365.

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One Response to National Security Team Gets Reshuffled by President Obama

1. TheWatcher says:

   3:18pm May 2, 2011 at 3:18 pm

   That's a solid group.

   Gates has done a good job — Obama made the right call and keeping him over from the W administration.

   Leon Panetta has some big shoes to fill. Panetta has done a lot over the years, though — he knows how to manage big issues and big departments, and his time at the CIA has, I'm sure, given him a good picture of the limits of American power and what can be done to maximize American military strength.

   Reply