It's Official

Late yesterday, a month after President Obama announced his intentions, the White House sent the Senate the nominations for Leon Panetta to replace Robert Gates as defense secretary and Gen. David Petraeus to replace Panetta as head of the CIA. The Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to schedule a confirmation hearing for Panetta in the near future, paving the way for prompt Senate confirmation. Panetta is slated to take over at the Pentagon immediately after Gates retires June 30. Petraeus, who is also subject to Senate confirmation, would retire from the military and lead the CIA as a civilian, starting the job by September, according to the administration.