Retired Four-Stars Leading Candidates for Obama’s National Security Team
EmailFROM JAKE TAPPER AND MARTHA RADDATZ:
Democratic sources tell ABC News that President-elect Obama appears to be turning to two retired four-stars for his National Security Adviser and his Director of National Intelligence.
Marine Gen. James L. Jones (Ret.), the former head of NATO and U.S. forces in Europe, has emerged as the leading candidate to serve as the National Security Adviser for President-elect Obama.
Admiral Dennis C. Blair (Ret.), former Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Pacific Command and a 6th-generation naval officer, has emerged as the top candidate to be President-elect Obama’s Director of National Intelligence. He recently met in Chicago with the president-elect.
Neither job has been officially offered or accepted, and the Obama Transition Team would not confirm or deny either man’s front-runner status.
ABC News has also learned that during this transition period in which he’s assembling his Cabinet, Obama is listening to advice from Gen. Brent Scowcroft (Ret.), the former National Security Adviser for President George H.W. Bush, whose foreign policy Obama has said he admires. An appointment of a retired general to be National Security Adviser would be in the Scowcroft model.
Obama wants Jones to have a senior position in his administration, and with Robert Gates likely to stay on as Secretary of Defense, the President-elect has reached out to gauge Jones’ interest in heading up the National Security Council. Jim Steinberg, former deputy national security adviser to President Bill Clinton and current dean of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, has also been in contention for the post and has a great deal of support in the foreign policy community. One source describes the debate over Jones versus Steinberg as one where Steinberg is supported by many of Obama’s advisers, while Obama ardently supports Jones.
But Obama is said to value Jones’ advice and appreciates the signal it sends to put someone with more than 40 years of active military experience in such a senior position. Jones earned a reputation as someone who vocally expressed concern that the Pentagon had become too politicized during the reign of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, another quality Obama is said to admire. Jones also brings with him expertise in two very sensitive international problems that Obama will be faced with immediately upon taking office, having served as chairman of the Congressional Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq, and as special envoy for Middle East Security.
On a more personal level, Jones was, like the president-elect, raised abroad, having spent early years in France. And for the president-elect, who once said he’d replace the White House bowling alley with a basketball court, it cannot hurt that the 6’4" Jones is a former Georgetown Hoya basketball player.
For his part, Blair was an Oxford classmate of former president Bill Clinton, and was a classmate at the Naval Academy of Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va.
Of course, whether or not Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., ultimately becomes Secretary of State — which sources say is far more likely than not — will factor in the composition of the national security team.
– Jake Tapper and Martha Raddatz
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I trust Obama’s instincts on Jones. That makes a lot of sense and will signal not only as a wise pick but a deviation towards the change we all cherish. Looking forward to the beginning of his administration but at the same time too many leaks.
Posted by: vuzous | November 20, 2008, 6:39 pm 6:39 pm
Go O……….
Posted by: JR | November 20, 2008, 6:41 pm 6:41 pm
Once you go “O”, you never go barack.
Posted by: JR | November 20, 2008, 6:44 pm 6:44 pm
Too bad Obama won’t retain Bates, who has done a wonderful job in turning things around in Iraq. I got another idea, lets hire more people from the Clinton Admin and circle……That is what I call CHANGE that Obama promised US voters..
Posted by: 55Mariposa | November 20, 2008, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm
Excellent Choice!, if indeed this is offered and accepted.
Posted by: michael | November 20, 2008, 6:57 pm 6:57 pm
We find Hope with Obama. The good decisions that he and his team are making everyday and the way they are going about them are almost beyond belief…. especially with what we have become used to.
Hope, what a wonderful word in these difficult times.
Posted by: mr sleepy | November 20, 2008, 7:00 pm 7:00 pm
Obama has no experience.
Obama has done nothing in his past to prove he’s ready for this job.
He better start asking people to help in or our country will be a disaster.
If I were Hillary, I would stay clear of this man and stay in the Senate.
This election was disgraceful for our country: the media bias was embarrassing.
Posted by: rick from pa | November 20, 2008, 7:11 pm 7:11 pm
what’s with the naysayers! can’t get enough of F (factually) O (obsolete) X (illiterate) network news! Change is coming and for the better! The Obama Administration is off to a good start! They will “hit the ground running”!
Posted by: john copeland | November 20, 2008, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
The sad shape that bush put our military in, and the cash collecting contractor brigade that cheney headed up, will be one large mess to tackle. Much of it will probably be buried instead of a very bright light shining on it. If the Gander plane crash debris can be cordoned off in another country, can we expect anything other than business as usual? Film at Eleven…at ease folks!!!!
Posted by: daddyblue | November 20, 2008, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm
I like Jones. No more Clinton people.
Posted by: Kara | November 20, 2008, 7:30 pm 7:30 pm
rick from pa and all the other sore losers. O is smart enough to know he needs strong people with strong views –not like Bush who chose inferior people who had not views different from his own and, by the way, had to be indebted to him so he could look down on them and call them silly little names to make himself feel secure. Change is change in policy which O is pursuing. Bush has been a disgrace for our country. The Reps reaction to O’s win is embarrassing.
Posted by: ohio folk | November 20, 2008, 7:36 pm 7:36 pm
im salivating over this. i mean, who would have thought that such eminently intelligent and qualified individuals could be valued assets of an administration instead of rejected because their intelligence intimidate others? it’s a new day indeed
Posted by: lupercal | November 20, 2008, 7:41 pm 7:41 pm
Collin Powell? anyone?
Posted by: Emanuel | November 20, 2008, 7:47 pm 7:47 pm
Re ” … Obama has no experience.” Neither did Lincoln. Neither did Kennedy.
OTOH, no team came in with more experience than did Cheney, Rummy and co. And look what they did to our country.
Posted by: A. Shore | November 20, 2008, 8:03 pm 8:03 pm
We elected Obama, now we need to stand behind him and give this man a decent chance to do what he promised he will do. Obama is going to bring much needed new respect to this country. His goal is going to be to protect us from harm, get our economy back on tract, develop alternative fuels so we aren’t so dependent on foreign oil, help our environment, provide health care to millions and make sure our children (our future) receive the best education available. I’d say that’s a pretty steep promise and he’s going to need our support and help. If we’re still bickering back and forth, we should be ashamed and stop acting like selfish sore losers. We all have the same goal. Besides, he has more on his plate to correct from the last several years than any president who stepped into the white house. Give him a break. Don’t we all want him to succeed or would we prefer to say “I told you so.”
Posted by: KC | November 20, 2008, 8:22 pm 8:22 pm
General Jones appointment would likely to sooth my fears about Obama inexperience. THe time for political appointments is over, we live in a seriously dangerous world. When the chips are down it is always the MArines that go on front and hit by the bullets. It is only proper to put a no nonsense MArine general as the ntl security advisor. Enough politicking. The war in Iraq and Afganistan should have been run by Marines not Rumsfeld nor the Navy, The Navy had yet to have a combat encounter in this 7 years war. SO put the MArine General in charge and not who has the biggest budget in the pentagon. Do not let MBA like RUmsfeld or Scowcroft run the military. Not even Collin Powell, this is politics as usual.
Posted by: jimmy | November 20, 2008, 8:33 pm 8:33 pm
I sure wish there were room for Wes Clark in there somewhere. General Clark is my kind of Democrat. American hero through and through.
Posted by: ElodieStClair | November 20, 2008, 8:33 pm 8:33 pm
noticeably absent? Wes Clark.
The idea that Obama’s even considering Blair in the light of a possible conflict of interest is rather…alarming.
Jones is impressive but I’m a little concerned about his apparent lack of educational credentials.
Posted by: jan | November 20, 2008, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm
We the people must decide whether we want a new direction in national security that does not rely on military solutions to every problem. We need to secure the economy, crush the pirates and crush Al Qaeda beyond that there is not much that can be done. Afghanistan has been declared a war that cannot be won militarily by experts, Iraq is a done deal, North Korean leader is about to kick the bucket, Libya is no longer an enemy and Iran is just posturing with not much else to do and if it does acquire nuclear weapons, Israel will take care of it. Russia will mind its own business if we mind our own business. So national security is rebuilding American infrastructure, creating jobs, retooling American industry, fighting diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease. Why do we need a military general. We are not going to be more secure if we have a military general and if there is one that is needed he or she could take the position of defense secretary. More Americans noncombatants in the USA are dying from disease and self inflicted health problems and accidents than caused by incidences than events such as 911, which was once in a 100 years event that could have been avoided. No one is recommending complacency but be realistic and get to the root cause of real problems rather than constantly preparing for a perceived threat and building weapons of mass destruction. Let there be some peace dividends before starting another war.
Posted by: gjkotw01 | November 20, 2008, 8:48 pm 8:48 pm
Isn’t it a bit dishonorable to disavow the Bush admin. policy and then continue it under his advisors? Then again, who is being dishonorable would be the question?
Posted by: Thomas Hawkins | November 20, 2008, 9:03 pm 9:03 pm
People actually voted for bush.
Some were foolish enough to do that twice.
Umbelievable.
Posted by: djsjs | November 20, 2008, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm
Thomas Hawkins
I assume you are referring to Gen. Brent Scowcroft in your remarks about it being “dishonorable to disavow the Bush admin. policy and then continue it under his advisors.” If you had read the article carefully you would have seen that Gen. Scowcroft was an advisor to H.W. Bush the 41st President.
Posted by: justin | November 20, 2008, 9:40 pm 9:40 pm
Finally–the best person for the job, not the best party member.
Posted by: NewCongress2010 | November 20, 2008, 9:56 pm 9:56 pm
I voted a straight Republican ticket, but I gotta tell you….so far……I’m impressed with our Pres. elect’s choices!
Posted by: Mr. Republican | November 20, 2008, 10:06 pm 10:06 pm
This is the first time that Obama and his leftist illuminati ideals are actually inline with his campaign promises. He has done nothing but fill his cabinet with partisan cronies up to this point, despite promising otherwise.
Posted by: Jeff | November 20, 2008, 10:09 pm 10:09 pm
Steinberg is not the insiders’ choice because he’s a Democrat. He’s the insiders’ choice because he’s about the best foreign policy mind of his generation. He’s done the deputy NSC job, as well as policy planning. Utterly formidable intellect, and knows how the policy process works. The irony is that by picking someone from the military, you suggest competence … while the most competent guy of all is sitting right under Obama’s nose.
Posted by: Bill | November 21, 2008, 12:33 am 12:33 am
Jones has intellectual gravitas-Georgetown School of Foreign Service and National War College. He would also be a bridge to the military which Obama and Biden, who have no military experience need. He would be an excellent reassuring choice.
Posted by: John | November 21, 2008, 4:09 am 4:09 am
The best man for the position is Gen. Wesley Clark. Not only is he an expert at foreign policy, but he is also a former Economics professor with a degree in the field. National Security is NOT just about foreign policy crises. It is also about economic crises, as well. Although I am an African-American Independent, I did not vote in the election, because I did not like the choice of Joe Biden for VP, (It should have been Wes Clark.)and there was no way I could vote for McCain. However, if Obama does not do the right thing and nominate Gen. Clark for National Security Adviser or some other high post, it will be the final nail in the coffin of my political support for him. I will NEVER vote for him or any other Democrat again. And I pray with ALL my heart that he is a failure as president,and he will be. Because it is clear to me that he is much more interested in doing what it takes to get re-elected than he is in to what is right for this country.
Posted by: KMB | November 21, 2008, 8:22 am 8:22 am
KMB, Clark has become too “political”. He would be a potential obstacle when we need non-partisanship. He is also head of a PAC that raises money to get Democrats elected across the country.
Posted by: Paige | November 21, 2008, 8:37 am 8:37 am
Paige, your argument does not make sense. Hillary Clinton is political, and so is every other nominee, so far. Hillary Clinton has also raised money for other candidates. Gen. Clark campaigned hardily for Obama. The least Obama could do is pick ONE person for his administration who truly cares about his country, and NOT just about his own ambition, e.g. Hillary Clinton and Rahm Emanuel. I am aware that Obama sold out to the powers that be in order to win the so called toss up states, and now he has to appease them by filling his administration with those individuals that he is told to choose. This is why he is totally ignoring his progressive base. He is just like every other presidential candidate. When it comes to winning, all principles and values are tossed out the window. If he really wanted to solve the great problems facing this country, he would choose Clark, who is the ONLY Democrat with any vision or ideas.
Posted by: KMB | November 21, 2008, 9:34 am 9:34 am
Being a former Marine, my endorsement of General Jones follows from my confirmed “Semper Fidelis” mind-set.
On the other hand I would advise President-elect Obama to study the history of General Smedley Butler, Old Gimlet Eye, to see what an honorable man is capable of in the political environment.
Butler, a two time Medal of Honor awardee, is famous for putting Marines on mail trains to stop the mail robberies that were going on at the time. More important he informed Congress of a developing coup d’ etat known as the Business Plot, which was intended to unseat FDR. The schemers wanted Butler to lead the insurection.
Butler’s book ‘War is a Racket’, was one of the first to discourse on the military/industrial complex.
This is the military genus from which General Jones comes. He is a modern version of Americans in service to our nation, who learn the ins and outs at a small principality on the Potomac known as Quantico. Semper fi, General Jones. Semper fi to the max!
Posted by: Martin Young | November 21, 2008, 9:48 am 9:48 am
Paige : Clark is decidedly less partisan than all of Obama picks and Obama himself. There may be other considerations, but in what is already becoming a rabidly partisan administration I don’t think Clark’s political views will be anything anybody will take notice of.
Posted by: howwouldiknow | November 21, 2008, 12:24 pm 12:24 pm
I hope he picks a Marine for at least one of the Cabinet posts. After all, the Marines were the ones who fought in our countrie’s first war on foreign soil when Thomas Jefferson was president. Remember the line: ‘To the shores of Tripoli’? How many know what that was about?
At least the Marines have war experience.
Posted by: bamaconnie | November 21, 2008, 1:34 pm 1:34 pm
I can’t believe this… here we are more than 2 weeks past the election and there are a bunch of people still pouting because McCain lost…. GET OVER IT!!! Look… you pack of sore losers, Obama will be officially be president 1/20/09. Whether you agree with his appointments or not, you have to accept them for the next 4 years. He may have inspired the nation with his message of change, but politics is politics…. PERIOD!! And he is still a POLITICIAN. All this crap about former Clinton people being named to the white house staff and the cabinet… what were you all expecting? Who was he supposed to get… a bunch of people from the “hood”? I seem to remember this country having economic prosperity when CLINTON was in office!!! And if that’s not enough, WE WERE ALSO NOT FIGHTING 2 WARS WHEN CLINTON WAS IN OFFICE!!!!! I voted for Obama, and I’ll continue to support him… but you all have to give him a chance… he hasn’t even taken the oath of office yet!
Posted by: stopthemadness | November 21, 2008, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm
When is O” goimg to realize that “blackberrys are a security risk.and its getting more apparent that he may also be a security risk,he cant get a clearance himself.
Posted by: SC SUPERMAN | November 21, 2008, 5:55 pm 5:55 pm
‘FROM THE OLD CORPS TO THE NEW CORPS “SEMPER FI”
Posted by: SC SUPERMAN | November 21, 2008, 6:05 pm 6:05 pm
Martin Young
Semper Fi” what years did you serve? were you stationed at lejeune? I served from “61 to 67″ vietnam era vet
Posted by: SC SUPERMAN | November 21, 2008, 6:11 pm 6:11 pm
There is a very wide difference between O” and the men he tries to compare himself to: for the facts “FDR was no a Liberal,Truman” was not a liberal,JFK was not a liberal,eisenhour was not a liberal. and lincoln defiantly was not a liberal.so anyone who remotely thinks thereis some coparison,guess agin. O” does not fit the mould of any of these past presidents. they were leaders in extreme hard times.each demonstrated leadership in their own way .
Posted by: SC SUPERMAN | November 21, 2008, 6:28 pm 6:28 pm
I served in the military[marines] under “JFK and he was a great leader as well as president and the next president that i had greatly admired was president Ronald Reagan who also had great leadership abilities,these men along with “FDR” ‘Truman None of these men were liberals ,they defended the country,and took care of the people. thats why they go down in history as some of the greatest presidents of our time.
Posted by: SC SUPERMAN | November 21, 2008, 6:41 pm 6:41 pm
Jones has a few written articles about his views on his strategic stances of the Iraq war. He does not advocate a withdrawal from Iraq any time soon, so maybe he’ll educate pres-elect on the dangers Iraq will face if we pull out when Obama promised.
Posted by: shelby | November 21, 2008, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm
I cant agree with all these comments, i voted independant,not for O” or mccain i have a problem with trust,i did not want O’ in there to be honest,but it happened. you can bet i will watch every move he makes,and be critical when i see wrong directions being taken.
Posted by: SC SUPERMAN | November 21, 2008, 7:02 pm 7:02 pm
Wes Clark for NS Advisor? No Way!!! He angered every NATO allie we had, oversaw the Bosnia fiasco where it took months to move a small force into a tiny country, and is so partisan no Republican would ever support him. If you want true “cooperation” within the U.S. and with our allies, pick Jones.
Posted by: retiredSFCmilintel | November 22, 2008, 9:00 am 9:00 am
If Obama wants a successful administration, he will get Gen. Wesley Clark as NSA. Clark is the only Democrat with the knowledge and experience needed to tackle the horrible crises that we are facing. Gen. Jones (whoever he is) does not have the experience needed to help with foreign policy, as well as economic crises, all of which we now face. National Security is NOT just about the military or terrorism. It is about any situation or occurrence that would hurt national security. Clark has expertise in the areas of foreign policy, global warming/energy independence, military, economics, etc. He has the kind of well-rounded knowledge that Obama will need. Gen. Jones has ONLY military experience. So, if Obama is looking for excellence, as he claims, how can he pass up Gen. Wesley Clark? If he does, it is because he does not like Clark, or is still holding a grudge because Clark endorsed Hillary Clinton over him. I would also think that Hillary Clinton would have the decency to go to bat for Clark, as well, since he helped her so much during the primaries. And, finally, since the National Security Adviser does not have to be confirmed by the Senate, there is no excuse for not picking him, except maliciousness. My family and I did not vote in the general election, because I did not like the pick of Joe Biden for VP, but my family and I were also angry about the way Obama and his campaign dissed Clark during the convention. We lost respect for Obama after that. And even though we gave hundreds of dollars to his campaign and even registered voters for him, we stayed home on election day. He had better be glad that the Republicans had McCain, because had it been Romney and Palin, we would have voted for their ticket in a heart beat!
And, as I said in an earlier post, I am an African-American Independent voter.
Posted by: KMB | November 22, 2008, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm
Sooo better than Bush to get the retired military experts to keep us safe. Under Bush appointed his personal pals and many college Republicans who couldn’t keep us safe from 9-11. Unqualified nincompoops under Bush and ACTUALLY qualified people to fill appointed posts under Obama. Been a lonnng 8 years of buffoonery. I was worried we’d never see an efficient, statesmanlike USA again. :)
Posted by: buzziea | November 22, 2008, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
George W Bush did not have anything to do With 9/11 bombing you idiot he had just got elected. you need to put blame on Bill Clinton who just left office.
Posted by: jean | November 22, 2008, 4:43 pm 4:43 pm
And, to Jean: buzziea’s point was that the attacks on 9/11 occurred during Bush’s term in office. At that point, Bush had been in office for nearly eight months, and he and his administration, including National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice, had ignored a very pointed August 2001 National Intelligence Estimate that warned of an upcoming attack. In order to be able to correctly assess the intelligence that is gathered by experts in the field, it is necessary to have “intelligence” in the Executive Branch, especially in the Commander-in-Chief. It has been sorely lacking during the last eight years.
And, really, can you stop blaming Clinton for everything that has happened since he left office?
Posted by: HydePark48 | November 22, 2008, 5:39 pm 5:39 pm
you all need to remember that your problems in the world stem from the fact that your government has intrusive foriegn policies.who gave you the right to be the sheriff of the world.my biggest regret is that i voted for john howard who went on to become george w bush’s puppet and send innocent australians to fight a battle your government started.wake up and smell the roses america your little war on terrorism has more to do with oil and making oil barons richer.lets just hope your president elect pulls all of your troops out of iraq and afghanistan in a timely manner before more innocent people die over a commodity.
Posted by: AzraelArcAngel | November 23, 2008, 3:19 am 3:19 am
Helllo ArcAngel. About war over commodities…none of the US oil companies are in the top world petroleum providers. The US is not in OPEC. Look a bit a history, not just yesterday. The Great War (WWI) had numerous “control of oil” moves in its duration. WWII was cored around Germany getting to the Middle East and Japan getting to the oil fields in Java. And by the way it was the US and its intervention that prevented Australia from now having Japanese as its national language. Who led against world communism? The “Empire’s” socialists? The US is the only reason a UN of individual nations even exists.
Posted by: Jon'sVu | November 23, 2008, 8:59 am 8:59 am
The Pentagon needs serious management and the injection of competency. The problems are more than just political appointments, the other career staff have been consumed with mindless management initiatives of no substance. Contract and cost management has been at best lax resulting in billions of dollars of waste, beyond that which is to be expected in a huge organization. The management problems extend way beyond the Pentagon proper to within the Service elements where management has become a care taker function and worse, no accountability for performance. Far too many Generals and Colonels sitting behind desks, more concerned about civilian jobs than doing their jobs.
Posted by: geek | November 23, 2008, 10:16 pm 10:16 pm
I did not vote for our current President elect, but I am gratified and impressed with his selection of General Jones as candidate for his National Security Advisor. General Jones constitutes a superb choice as National Security Advisor. His experience as a military leader, combat veteran, international leader as the Supreme Allied Commander, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and as director of the Chamber of Commerce Institute for 21st Century Energy, round out a pedigree that also includes undergraduate studies at Georgetown and a degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College. I doubt one would find someone whose credentials include the breadth and depth of his practical and academic experience that exist with this fine man. Unlike some of the others mentioned within this blog, General Jones also exhibits the qualities of a true gentlemen and diplomat whose ability to “gracefully wear power” place him squarely at the forefront among leaders the nation requires to restore its international standing while maintaining its influence. I personally watched General Jones in multiple venues develop instant rapport with every person he dealt with regardless of station or nationality and take complex decisions that proved visionary in retrospect. He is one the people I’ve found most “comfortable in his skin” regardless of his position. He is a man of integrity, unimpeachable intellect, and possesses moral courage that finds its foundation in a well developed ethical compass that served this country in multiple capacities for more than four decades. I challenge anyone to find the level of experience, measured intellect, and statesmanship resident in this man among the partisan politicals that typically find themselves asked to serve in such positions of responsibility. General Jones earned the confidence of a nation through action and steady application of excellence….not partisanship. He will do magnificently. I wish him fair winds and following seas.
Posted by: GK | November 24, 2008, 8:46 am 8:46 am
Hmmmm now, I wonder why the new president would surround himself with four star generals, even to the extent of placing one in charge of homeland security? He must be concidering some sort of mass round up to the vilent response that will certianly occur when the system fails and his programs are just not enough in due time to prevent it. what do you think?
Posted by: harry | November 24, 2008, 10:57 am 10:57 am
I’m no military person but from what I’ve read about the backgrounds of these men, they appear to have the “right stuff”. So far as I read daily about the choices Obama is making for his Cabinet, he seems to know what he’s doing and surrounding himself with intelligent people.
Hope I’m right as he’s got the job from h–l in front of him.
Posted by: atomheartmother1 | November 25, 2008, 12:15 pm 12:15 pm
Any Marine will tell you Jones is a politican having spent the large majority of his career trying to get inside the beltway or back to the beltway. Guess he made it back inside.
Posted by: JMH | November 25, 2008, 6:46 pm 6:46 pm
First we had Conan da Republican in Ca.
Now we have the Obama-man da Republic-he-can as commander and Chief !!!
Goes to show you … even a former community organizer, who we right wingers where sure was an old fashioned Lilly liver liberal has the common sense to put the big bad mean republicans in charge of foreign policy.
Even scary than war mongering Republican in charge of the nukes is our fearless leader and defender of freedom Hillary … now with her in charger the terrorist have someone to fear …
Posted by: Nobama Obama | November 25, 2008, 11:35 pm 11:35 pm
Obama’s choice of General Jones will be fine as this guy has been in combat and knows the system. we do not need Wesley Clark, a worthless Clinton hack.
Clinton’s inactions in Bosnia and the Balkans, allowed at least 100,000 people to be killed. He mulled around and finally sent in some jets to do something way late in the game..
Clinton was directly responsible for 9/11 as he did nothing to attack the camps in Afghanistan after the first WTC bombing in 1993. At least 100,000 Islam fanatic Taliban/ Al Qaeda types were trained unimpeded. thank you bill clinton,,,
I really do not want Hilliary / Bill Clinton to run our foreign affairs. She should be home making toast for him,,Besides he has made millions doing influence peddling stuff anyway so this is a problem anyway.
The comments about OBAMA during the campaign by both Clinton’s shows their inner racism towards Obama . He can find someone else and appoint Hilliary to some lesser visible position (Dept of Counting Pencils) ,,,,
As far as the other appointments, I have no negative comments and do think that GOV Napitalino will be fine
Posted by: alonzo | November 26, 2008, 12:46 am 12:46 am
GK’s post of 11/24 is an excellent summation and analysis of General James Jones. Anyone on this blog who has not yet read GK’s post should do so, followed up by General Jones’ biographicals. I am so hopeful that the press is correct that General Jones will be our next National Security Advisor. He is a man of strong intellect, politically acute (but politically unpolluted), and pragmatic. Neither we nor the President will hear double-talk or misleading statements from his mouth. Obama continues to pursue the formation of a team with excellent credentials. I have great hope for progress in the most difficult years that our nation now faces.
Posted by: W.A. Belle Isle | November 27, 2008, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm