Report: Petraeus to CIA, Panetta to Head Defense

NBC News reports:

CIA director Leon Panetta is to take over at the Pentagon and Gen. David Petraeus is to be nominated to head the CIA, NBC News confirmed Wednesday.

Petraeus, who took over as Afghanistan war commander in June, was expected to leave that post before the end of this year.

His name had been floated as a possible replacement for Panetta if President Barack Obama decided to tap Panetta to replace Robert Gates as Defense Secretary.

Sources told the Associated Press that Obama was expected to also announce that Lt. Gen. John Allen would replace Petraeus as Afghanistan commander, and that diplomat Ryan Crocker will be the next U.S. ambassador in Afghanistan.

The changes are expected to be announced Thursday at the White House. The officials all spoke on condition of anonymity because the changes are not final.

NBC News' Savannah Guthrie confirmed the news regarding Panetta, Petraeus and Crocker.

The changes would probably take effect this summer. Gates has already said he will leave this year.