Panetta Moves to Pentagon, Petraeus to Helm CIA

According to AP sources
By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 27, 2011 6:42 AM CDT
Updated Apr 27, 2011 7:53 AM CDT
Panetta Moves to Pentagon, Petraeus to Helm CIA
CIA Director Leon Panetta testifies before the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, in this Feb. 10, 2011 file photo.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

The big security shakeups are out, by way of unidentified AP sources, and as predicted, Leon Panetta is in as the new secretary of defense, succeeding Robert Gates. Gen. David Petraeus will be nominated to fill Panetta's shoes as CIA director. Five-time ambassador Ryan Crocker, who retired in 2009 and was reportedly resistant to the administration's advances, is expected to become the new ambassador to Afghanistan. The Washington Post notes that this will reunite him briefly with Petraeus, who led the US charge in Iraq while Crocker served as ambassador to that country.

Lt. Gen. John Allen is reportedly slotted to replace Petraeus in Afghanistan. The changes are to be announced tomorrow and would likely take effect this summer. (More Leon Panetta stories.)

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