James Jones: National Security Adviser

***Update 12/1, 11 AM***

At a news conference today, Obama introduced his picks of retired Marine Gen. James Jones as White House national security adviser, former Justice Department official Eric Holder as attorney general, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano as secretary of homeland security, Susan Rice as UN Ambassador, Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State and Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense

Read more here.

***

ABC News reports that Barack Obama is close to picking Gen. James Jones as National Security Adviser:

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.

The Washington Post adds some biographical information:

Current job: President and chief executive of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for 21st Century Energy

Credentials: Forty years of active duty in the Marine Corps; supreme allied commander in Europe, 2003-2007; former commandant of the Marine Corps; senior aide to former defense secretary William S. Cohen.

What he offers: Jones, 64, has a lifetime of military service and in the private sector serves as an adviser on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2007, he advised Congress about the readiness of the Iraqi security forces. He was named as a special envoy to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Palestinian and Israeli security issues.

Quote: "Make no mistake, the international community is not winning in Afghanistan. Unless this reality is understood and action is taken promptly, the future of Afghanistan is bleak, with regional and global impact."

Comments

[Ron1951]

10:19 AM on 11/23/2008

As long as he realizes that Afghanistan is not Iraq and large numbers of troops are not going to get even as close as they have in Iraq. Form alliances with sympathetic warlords, give them weapons and let them do their own fighting to safekeep their own areas. Then support them by building them some roads and schools and water purification systems and electrical generators so they have the incentive to protect their own areas and people from the Taliban. Bring our troops home and invest the money that it would have cost to post and properly support so many troops into our own economy.

[bby328]

06:37 AM on 11/23/2008

"How Obama Saved the World", a cast of thousands . . .
Marine Gen. James L. Jones (Ret.), the former head of NATO and U.S. forces in Europe, will be played by Richard Crenna

[harriscrl3]

10:17 PM on 11/22/2008

Why do people want Hagel as Secretary of Defense? I dont get why he would work at that post. I like Obama's advisor I dont remember his name but he was a retired airforce general I think.

Carol

[dulcis]

11:37 PM on 11/22/2008

Gen. Merrill "Tony" McPeak - Air Force Chief of Staff for Bush Sr., and an opponent of the invasion of Iraq. Is that who you mean?

[SSF]

09:30 PM on 11/22/2008

All those people who denounced President-Elect Obama as a Socialist and a full-blown Commie will now have to ask themselves if such a person would select Gen. James Jones as his National Security Advisor. This is proof that Obama is a sensible, pragmatic thinker who won't send our troops into harms' way foolishly.

[khiva]

10:05 PM on 11/22/2008

That would be true if those people were rational, thinking, logical human beings who used reason and analytical scientific processes to develop ideas. Unfortunately they are religious voodoo freaks who believe the earth is 5,000 years old and the Flintstones movie was a documentary. So don't hold your breath.

[HoraceOvidson]

09:16 PM on 11/22/2008

Looks like it is time to call in the Marines.

[sociocanuck]

08:41 PM on 11/22/2008

Credentials: Forty years of active duty in the Marine Corps.

I'm sold. If he doesn't know what he's doing after four decades, I don't think anyone else could.

[guitrman]

05:43 PM on 11/22/2008

There are so many wonderful, talented, QUALIFIED americans willing to serve that it heightens the grief over the last eight years.

What a waste.

[kylennblack]

05:15 PM on 11/22/2008

Excellent!

*does happy dance*

[karela]

10:50 AM on 11/22/2008

I'd like to hear from Fallon again too. He struck me as a man of integrity who got buried so that Bush could destroy the world. Where is Fallon?

[kylennblack]

05:16 PM on 11/22/2008

I was wondering that too, I hope he reappears as an advisor in some capacity.

[nwpolobserver]

10:44 PM on 11/22/2008

Fallon essentially trashed the Petraeus surge because he felt the troops could have been better deployed to Afganistan. Unless Obama is willing to pick this scab and give Fallon a role, he'd be best to left this sleeping dog lay.

[rollingdivision]

09:10 AM on 11/22/2008

Jones is a good appointment. He surely would have had a role in a McCain administration. He currently works for an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and chair of the board of directors of the Atlantic Council of the United States. He also served as chair of the Independent Commission on Security Forces of Iraq, sponsored by the Atlantic Council of the United States. Their report is a solid, well done, honest product. It is interesting in it's positive perception of the surge, early on, and it's complete lack of any support for the arbitrary 16 month withdraw.

Jones is also on the Board of Directors of the Boeing and the board of directors of Chevron Corporation. So he has real world business experience.

Jones was asked by Condoleezza Rice to join the Bush administration as Deputy Secretary of State after the resignation of Robert Zoelick. He declined.

Though there was talk of Jones as Obama's vice president, Jones appeared with and supported McCain.

[jingles32]

06:57 AM on 11/22/2008

Gen. James Jones is one impressive guy! He was a part of one of O's televised economic summits/round tables, during the campaign; the man shines on so many levels. His background/accomplishments in the private sector/on the energy front, are just as impressive as his military bona fides. Intelligent, well spoken; a man with conviction and a vision! His comments regarding our energy future were most impressive; a Renaissance man of sorts!

And I do believe that after a brief stint as SOD, as we begin to step down from Iraq, Hagel will step into the slot as Gates' replacement.

[Shieldmaiden]

02:07 AM on 11/22/2008

Good. Someone with sound judgement. We need that back in Washington.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

08:29 PM on 11/21/2008

Outstanding.

[jubei]

08:07 PM on 11/21/2008

WESLEY CLARK,CHUCK HAGEL,WESLEY CLARK,CHUCK HAGEL,WESLEY CLARK,CHUCK HAGEL,WESLEY CLARK,CHUCK HAGEL!!!!

[jubei]

07:57 PM on 11/21/2008

GEN.WESLEY CLARK AND GEN.JAMES JONES IS ON POINT ALL WE NEED NOW SEN.CHUCK HAGEL IN THE MIXS!!!!!