Change I can't really believe in.

Obama's new CIA chief Leon Panetta promises to show a little bit more respect for what should be the most important of our three branches of government - the Congress. This is all very comforting, seeing as the Bush administration got into the habit of treating our legislative branch more like a nuisance than a Constitutional provision. Meanwhile, it might do us well to remember that Panetta served as Clinton's Chief of Staff from 1994 and 1997, during which time he oversaw the enaction of extraordinary rendition, or "torture by proxy." I should think that this would complicate the plans of Congressional Democrats, who have proposed investigation of the Bush administration for engaging in the practice (among other things). The question of extraordinary rendition will no doubt reach Panetta's desk as the Obama administration considers what course of action should be taken in regards to ex-Guantanamo prisoners.

Less suprising, though still note-worthy, is Panetta's apparent willingness to continue prosecuting the "War on Terror" in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The only difference is that he might tweak the name, whose stigma is obviously a concern to him. Panetta's views seem to be consistent with those of Obama, who has talked openly about increasing troop levels in Afghanistan. In short, we have a new administration, but not, it seems, a new foreign policy in any distinct way.