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Obama to name intelligence appointments Friday, sources say

  • Story Highlights
  • Sources say Leon Panetta will be formally tapped as CIA director on Friday
  • Dennis Blair as will be asked to be director of national intelligence, sources say
  • Sources: John Brennan to be named as White House homeland security adviser
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama will announce Friday that he is naming Leon Panetta as CIA director and Dennis Blair as director of national intelligence, two officials close to the transition told CNN Thursday.

A formal announcement is expected Friday that Leon Panetta will be asked to lead the CIA.

A formal announcement is expected Friday that Leon Panetta will be asked to lead the CIA.

In addition, the officials added, former CIA official John Brennan will be named as White House homeland security adviser and deputy national security adviser for counterterrorism.

The announcements will be made at an event in Washington to be attended by Panetta and Blair but not by Brennan, the officials said.

Brennan will be given the task of reviewing whether the Homeland Security Council, created after 9/11, should be folded into the National Security Council or remain a separate entity in the White House, the officials said.

Transition officials said Brennan will hold the title of assistant to the president, a sign that he will report directly to Obama.

Two officials close to the transition team said several top current CIA officials, including Deputy Director Stephen Kappes, will be asked to stay at their posts.

One of the officials said Kappes is expected to agree to do so.

CNN's Ed Henry and Kevin Bohn contributed to this story.

All About Central Intelligence AgencyLeon PanettaU.S. Department of Homeland Security

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