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.

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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

[IkeChicago]

Now look who is running foreign policy: - General Jones and Barack Obama and from the White House.

Why was the name of Gen. Jones put out this morning, yeah to douse the Sec of State talk. He is a much bigger fish internationally.

[edgeways]

SoS and NSA fulfill overlapping but different jobs. they both can serve independent and coordinated functions. SoS is primary diplomatic NSA is, of course national security

[Ldyandrea]

Which I suppose makes sense.......Hillary is a much more well-known face, and would be very effective from a diplomatic standpoint, while Gen. Jones isn't as well-known by most people, he's WELL known within the military, and by world leaders. Sounds like an ideal fit for both to me.