Obama White House v. CIA; Panetta Threatened to Quit

[TheSarge]

A "profanity-laced screaming match" at the White House involving CIA Director Leon Panetta, and the expected release today of another damning internal investigation, has administration officials worrying about the direction of its newly-appoint intelligence team, current and former senior intelligence officials tell ABC News.com.

Amid reports that Panetta had threatened to quit just seven months after taking over at the spy agency, other insiders tell ABCNews.com that senior White House staff members are already discussing a possible shake-up of top national security officials.

"You can expect a larger than normal turnover in the next year," a senior adviser to Obama on intelligence matters told ABCNews.com.

Since 9/11, the CIA has had five directors or acting directors.

A White House spokesperson, Denis McDonough, said reports that Panetta had threatened to quit and that the White House was seeking a replacement were "inaccurate."

According to intelligence officials, Panetta erupted in a tirade last month during a meeting with a senior White House staff member. Panetta was reportedly upset over plans by Attorney General Eric Holder to open a criminal investigation of allegations that CIA officers broke the law in carrying out certain interrogation techniques that President Obama has termed "torture."

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=8398902

[NHSparky]

And another gone, and another one gone, another one under the bus....

[Eupher]

Panetta, the egotist, has a problem reporting to the National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair (instead of reporting directly to Lord Zero).

And the freakin' dweeb is "uncomfortable" with some of the stuff that the CIA does that he didn't know about until he got the job? Gimme a break.

Leon, you're in waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay over your head, no matter what Richard Clarke says. Now that your blood pressure is more or less back to normal, just sit back and learn your gig before you yap about it, even in WH meetings.

Asshat. 

[DixieBelle]

"You can expect a larger than normal turnover in the next year," a senior adviser to Obama on intelligence matters told ABCNews.com.

Heh. That's an understatment.

[DumbAss Tanker]

...has administration officials worrying about the direction of its newly-appoint intelligence team, current and former senior intelligence officials tell ABC News.com.

It has a direction?!?  Who knew?

[Chris_]

The only direction I think they are going is down just like his poll numbers.

[BlueStateSaint]

The only direction I think they are going is down just like his poll numbers.

'Tis true--it is a circular direction, clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere (and counter-clockwise for LC!)

[vesta111]

'Tis true--it is a circular direction, clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere (and counter-clockwise for LC!)

Such EGO for silly people that actually believe they can walk into a huge hornets nest and change the nature of the beast.

The CIA has a Director to become the whipping boy should something go wrong.  As the CIA has functioned well when between directors----why bother with one.

This New-Be has a boss to answer to who has had years to figure out how things are done. The Boss don"t care who he is, he has seen half a dozen others come and go.  Same questions, same complaints, same hissie-fits.

The director is there to take the heat off his boss, if needed even go to jail for him.  The so called Director is there as nothing but a Figure Head and can accomplish NOTHING without permission from his boss.

Oh yes the position gives him and family an EGO trip, VIP status anywhere in the world. Perks glore--However in fact his job is to just sit at his desk and wait for someone in the organization to screw up royally and point their finger At him,