Walter Pincus talked about President-Elect Obama’s selection of Leon Panetta to head the Central Intelligence Agency Panetta, including why Panetta may have been picked, the criticisms of the choice by some in Congress and intelligence officials, and the challenges he will face in that role. He also responded to telephone calls and electronic mail. Panetta, a former member of Congress who served as chief of staff to President Bill Clinton, has most recently been the director of the Panetta Institute.