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Obama's Senior Working Group on National Security is NOT CHANGE we can Believe in.
Obama's Senior Working Group on National Security is NOT CHANGE we can Believe in.
On June 18, Obama convened the first meeting of his "Senior Working Group on National Security," a collection of advisers and possible future Cabinet members in a new administration--many of them former Clinton administration operators. Their record of war-making and imperial arrogance is enough to make your blood curdle.
See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIPNBJeXirI
* MADELEINE ALBRIGHT - Served a secretary of state in former President Bill Clinton's administration and was a top adviser to the campaign of Obama's former rival, Hillary Clinton. In 1996, CBS's Lesley Stahl asked Madeleine Albright, then secretary of state, about the U.S-imposed sanctions against Iraq. "We have heard that a half million children have died," Stahl said. "I mean, that's more children than died in Hiroshima. Is the price worth it?"
Albright didn't hesitate. "I think this is a very hard choice, but the price--we think the price is worth it," said Albright.
* DAVID BOREN - The former governor and senator from Oklahoma chaired the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. is a former conservative Democratic senator. He was chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. He helped push through the appointment of Robert Gates to head the CIA in 1991. Boren's top aide at the time was George Tenet, who would later become director of the CIA under Clinton and later Bush the Younger. Boren is a longtime friend of the Bush family, and has also been courted by the right-wing Reform Party.
* WARREN CHRISTOPHER - Was Bill Clinton's first secretary of state and also served as deputy secretary of state in the Carter administration. As for Iraq, the Clinton administration inherited the devastating economic sanctions imposed by George Bush Sr. before the first Gulf War. When the pressure was on for the new administration to reconsider the sanctions, Christopher gave assurances no such thing would happen. As incoming secretary of state, he told reporters, "I find it hard to share the Baptist belief in redemption.... I see no substantial change in the position and continuing total support for what the [Bush] administration has done." Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis died as a result of the continuing economic blockade.
*DAVID BOREN - Boren is a former conservative Democratic senator. He was chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. He helped push through the appointment of Robert Gates to head the CIA in 1991. Boren's top aide at the time was George Tenet, who would later become director of the CIA under Clinton and later Bush the Younger. Boren is a longtime friend of the Bush family, and has also been courted by the right-wing Reform Party.
* GREG CRAIG - Was a former senior adviser to Albright in the Clinton administration and later led the team defending Bill Clinton against the impeachment charges involving Clinton's affair with a White House intern. Despite long ties to both Bill and Hillary Clinton, Craig was an early supporter of Obama and has been part of his inner circle of advisers.
* RICHARD DANZIG - Served as secretary of the Navy under Bill Clinton and is an expert on counterterrorism. Danzig was a consultant for Martin Marietta immediately before joining the Clinton administration, he restructured the defense industry in a plan nicknamed "payoffs for layoffs" by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, in which the government paid military contractors to consolidate.
* LEE HAMILTON - The former Indiana congressman co-chaired the blue-ribbon commission that investigated the Sept. 11 attacks and was a lead author of Iraq Study Group report that offered recommendations on Iraq to President George W. Bush in 2006.
* ERIC HOLDER - Was deputy attorney general in Bill Clinton's administration and is working with Caroline Kennedy, daughter of slain President John F. Kennedy, in helping to guide Obama's search for a vice presidential running mate.
* ANTHONY LAKE - Was national security adviser to Bill Clinton and has been part of the inner circle of Obama's campaign.
* SAM NUNN - A former senator from Georgia who chaired the Senate Armed Services Committee, Nunn has long been viewed as a leading Democratic voice on foreign policy and some have speculated he might be looked at by Obama as a potential running mate.* WILLIAM PERRY - Was secretary of defense under Bill Clinton.
* SUSAN RICE - The former assistant secretary of state for African Affairs is Obama's senior foreign policy adviser.
* TIM ROEMER - The former Indiana congressman was a member of the 9/11 commission.
* JAMES STEINBERG - Was deputy national security adviser to Bill Clinton.
Comments (4)
Yes it is.
August 15, 2008 8:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sho nuff is!
August 15, 2008 9:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, where's Zbignew B. and Lawrence Korb? Aren't they are also advising Obama?
These distinguished FP experts DO represent change. Change from the neocon FP nightmare of the 8 years.
August 15, 2008 10:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
There is something eerily similar to nest of hawks Bush aligned with before he took office.
It wasn't just chance that Cheney, Bolton, Wolfowitz, Jeb Bush, James Woolsey, William Kristol, Donald Rumsfeld and other members of Project for a New American Century (PNAC) ended up in key positions that lead the charge to dominate the Mid-East and create global fear of the expansion of America’s global imperialism.
Now that Bush has expanded presidential power to a point just short of king, I am concerned about the office, and what McCain or Obama will do with the advances toward a unitary presidency.
So, call me Chicken Little – the sky is falling, but, any hint by either candidate of visions or associations that even remotely appear similar to Bush bothers me.
Is there no concern that the SWGNS has several ties to the weapons industry, pro-Iraq war members, pro-Iran war members, pro-chemical and biological weapons advocates, etc.
Maybe that gives balance, but, more than likely it is a harbinger of direction. Obama says he will change America and the world. SImilar to Bush providing "God's gift of demcoracy to every continent in the world," or Wilson's making the world safe for democracy.
I can only hope the "change" the world vision of Obama is not at the point of a gun. I am opposed to a 3rd Bush term whether by Bush or Obama. Both seem to be going that way on foreign policy.
I like Zev Brezinsky. I am not sure Obama is listening to him and Obama was distancing himself from Brezinsky a few months ago. He is not on the SWGNC.
August 16, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
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