US PRESIDENT Barack Obama is planning to conduct the first big reshuffle of his administration that would mean Gen David Petraeus, US commander in Afghanistan, takes over as head of the CIA and its director Leon Panetta becomes defence secretary.
It marks a huge advancement for Gen Petraeus amid speculation that he will stand as Republican candidate for the presidency in 2016. He is already seen as a national hero, credited with turning around the war in Iraq.
That military background, plus the CIA job, will provide him with a solid platform should he opt to run for the White House.
The shifts have been prompted by the long planned retirement of defence secretary Robert Gates, who served in the post under George W Bush and was asked by Mr Obama to stay on.
Gen Petraeus was due to leave his post in Afghanistan at the end of the year, having completed his term, and there has been speculation about his next job.
The Associated Press (AP) reported that Mr Obama would make the announcement today. The AP, quoting administration and other sources, said the reshuffle would take place in the summer.
The changes will come at an important juncture in the Afghanistan war. US and British forces fought on through the winter, taking Taliban positions and they will see how much damage this has done when the Taliban resumes fighting this spring and summer.
In the near future, Gen Petraeus is scheduled to provide Mr Obama with proposals for limited troop cuts, while Mr Obama is due to announce in July how many US troops will begin returning from Afghanistan.
Mr Panetta, a Democrat, was initially greeted with caution by the CIA but, according to former agency officials, he has won them over.
In other changes, Ryan Crocker is to become the new ambassador to Afghanistan and Lieut Gen John Allen will replace Gen Petraeus, according to the AP. – ( Guardianservice)