What Impact Will Defense Secretary Panetta Have On Washington?

Photo: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, left, and CIA Director Leon Panetta, right, walk into the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010. India Times

How Leon Panetta Could Change Washington As Next Defense Secretary -- Christian Science Monitor

Leon Panetta, currently CIA director, is a close ally of Vice President Biden. But political realities could prevent him from adopting Mr. Biden's stance on US troops in Afghanistan.

Among President Obama’s greatest national security challenges has been deciding who will replace Defense Secretary Robert Gates, as the widely popular Pentagon chief prepares to leave his post this summer.

Coming to that decision has involved a delicate confluence of considerations. Who is suitably steeped in defense policy matters? Who will have credibility both with the White House and within the halls of the Pentagon? And equally important, how will a new Defense secretary affect the balance of power within Mr. Obama’s cabinet?

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My Comment: By the time Leon Panetta assumes the office of Secretary of Defense this summer, the political focus will shift to next year's Presidential and Congressional elections .... and with a large number of Democrat senators up for re-election, I doubt that Defense Secretary Panetta will be publicly advocating the shutting down of defense related programs and bases.

What he will do (instead) will be to lay down the groundwork so that after next year's election the White House will be in a position to easily implement and enforce the budget cutbacks that President Obama wants. But if President Obama is defeated, or if the Democrats lose their Senate majority .... the impact that Leon Panetta will have on Washington will probably be next to nothing.