Obama Reaches Out To Bush 41 Veteran Scowcroft For Advice

Democratic sources say that former Bush 41 National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft is one of the people whom Barack Obama has been consulting about how to craft his national security team. Knowledgeable sources say Obama reached out to Scowcroft two days ago to discuss defense and national security issues.

Scowcroft, who first served as President Ford's national security adviser, was an early and vocal critic of the Iraq war -- starting in August 2002. That criticism cost the retired Air Force General his position as head of President Bush's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[sposton]

His buddy Eagleburger attacks Richardson's intelligence and he's advising Obama. I wonder if they are coordinating speaking in Serbian?

[conniedogs]

There's no way around it, PEBO MUST reinstate the draft. Our military is stretched thin, we need more man power, it's the only way!

[bobbym]

It was in George H.W. Bush and Brent Scrowcroft's book A World Transformed, that they accurately predicted what would happen in Iraq if they would have gone on to topple it in the first Iraq war and why they didn't do it. W must have never bothered to read it. Scrowcroft is a smart guy.

"Trying to eliminate Saddam, extending the ground war into an occupation of Iraq, would have violated our guideline about not changing objectives in midstream, engaging in "mission creep," and would have incurred incalculable human and political costs. Apprehending him was probably impossible. We had been unable to find Noriega in Panama, which we knew intimately. We would have been forced to occupy Baghdad and, in effect, rule Iraq. The coalition would instantly have collapsed, the Arabs deserting it in anger and other allies pulling out as well. Under the circumstances, there was no viable "exit strategy" we could see, violating another of our principles. Furthermore, we had been self-consciously trying to set a pattern for handling aggression in the post-Cold War world. Going in and occupying Iraq, thus unilaterally exceeding the United Nations' mandate, would have destroyed the precedent of international response to aggression that we hoped to establish. Had we gone the invasion route, the United States could conceivably still be an occupying power in a bitterly hostile land. It would have been a dramatically different" and perhaps barren" outcome."

[sonoffestus]

This is why every President should be able to read at a high school level. If I remember correctly, bush struggled through My Pet Goat.

[tahoegal]

Way to go Obama! Tapping intelligence wherever you find it is a new trend, and yes, I consider it "change"! He's not afraid to take advice from those who come from Republican administrations in the past, he will reach across and get the best and brightest. Isn't that what he promised to do?

[Damaven]

Wonderful. This is reaching across, out and into intelligence.

[Shieldmaiden]

I'm glad he's talking to him. He's one of the few Republicans with any cred and sound judgement.

[hollybork]

Good for President Elect Obama. Brent Scowcroft is that rare combination of experience, intellect, sound judgment and discretion. He could have done a lot more good had Bush Jr. appointed him as VP or Defense Secretary.

[marymansour]

Good move, Mr. PE. You are, as promised, reaching out to all.

[kgb999]

Snowcroft is one of the few republicans left with any credibility ... good for Obama in seeking him out. Bush lost a lot of credibility when he ignored Snowcroft's advice in favor of Feith's.

[naschkatze]

Scrowcroft has been a very rare Republican who has put country, not self, first.

[iPolitics]

Smart.

[NotMcCain]

Scowcroft is one of the endangered species--an intelligent, moderate Republican with a lot of good insights and ideas.

We would have been better served if Bush 43 had listened to him. I'm glad Obama is.

[doublels]

He's got guts to stick to his opinion. Sounds like a good bet to me!!

[LittlePurpleUSA]

As long as Obama doesn't ask Rumsfeld for advice.

http://littlepurpleusa.blogspot.com

[Grunty1]

Obama has said he wants opposing views, not ideology posing as views.

[joebaggadonuts]

nicely put.

[mcantwell]

Hmmmm........the guy opposed the war in Iraq and was vocal about it, so Bush fired him. I guess Bush only wants to surround himself with people who say "YES dear."

[Grunty1]

No "guess" involved. Bush's ego is huge but fragile.