Director of the CIA: Leon Panetta

At 70, Panetta is an instant elder statesman in the young President's inner circle. But his long political experience - both as a Republican and a Democrat - will count for little among CIA top brass who have always preferred their 'spymasters' to be experienced intelligence professionals. Obama has picked him in an effort to improve the reputation of the agency, recently criticised for its attitude towards torture and water-boarding. "We either believe in the dignity of the individual, the rule of law, and the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment, or we don't," says Panetta. "There is no middle ground." Intelligence expert David Corn says: "If Panetta manages to make it to Langley without much fuss, that would indeed signal real change in Washington."

FIRST POSTED JANUARY 7, 2009