U.S. President Barack Obama announces new appointments to his national security team in the East Room of the White House April 28, 2011 in Washington, DC. Obama has tapped current CIA Director Panetta to succeed Robert Gates as the next secretary of defense, U.S. Gen. David Petraeus to be the next CIA director, Ambassador Ryan Crocker to be the next U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, and Marine Corps Gen. John Allen to succeed Petraeus as commander of ISAF and U.S. forces in Afghanistan. (Getty)