Obama Staffs Defense, Danzig's Future Up In Air

The Obama transition team announced on Thursday afternoon the staffing of key positions in the Department of Defense, ending a process that proved a bit tricky according to those in the know.

William Lynn, a former Clinton defense official, will serve in the top deputy spot. The Under Secretary of Defense for Policy will be Michèle Flournoy, a well-respected voice in defense policy circles and the founder and head of the Center for a New American Security.

The staff announcements seem, on the surface, to be a blow for a few contenders -- none more so than Richard Danzig, the Secretary of the Navy under President Clinton. Danzig was the focus of many of the initial rumors as to who would serve under Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

But the process of filling out the Pentagon has many variables. And, in the end, Danzig may end up in a more optimal position. According to one well-connected source, the Obama team -- as of a few weeks ago -- was kicking around the idea of appointing a deputy secretary of defense who would not ultimately succeed Gates. The logic was that the new administration would eventually want a clean break from the old.

Another source, who admits to not having direct knowledge of the staffing decisions but is well-verse in defense affairs, seconds the theory.

"My gut feeling is that [Obama] will want his own guy in there but is waiting a bit before making the big change. What is going on now is putting loyalists in the important jobs ... My guess is 12-18 months and a new Secretary of Defense."

A third source agrees, saying, "I think it means Defense Advisory Board for Danzig, with a chance to play down the road."

If this philosophy holds true, being left out now could benefit Danzig in the long-term.

Comments

[hortonhearsawho2]

Is this like Danzing with the Stars ?

[lovesds]

No one wants the whole cabinet to be Liberals. I didn't vote for a Liberal because they always screw things up. I voted for a Centrist Obama. Complain some more you liberal democrats cause the more you complain the more we centralist democrats go independant. Pretty soon you won't have liberal democrats. The liberal democrats are the main ones who have messed up the party.

[hortonhearsawho2]

indepndent, as in I can't make my mind up...

[Coinyer101]

try winning an election without us stoopid!

[Coinyer101]

funny how noone mentions william lynn was a defense lobbyist up until july. not that i care, but, Barack did promise not to appoint lobbyists. the guy comes highly recommended, but, still, it's not nice to fib to your constituency.

[dbdzen]

Clark is legally ineligible for appointment in the Pentagon until May 2010.

[ljc]

More speculative journalism. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[ckfan]

I know. It's ridiculous. That seems to be the role of journalists these days. No investigative reporting. No fact checking. Just a bunch of journalists and pundits sitting around speculating and yelling. Ugh.

[legalgirl]

NCY, they're not liberals.

[Bitsko]

Did Danzig's public relations agency write this? Nowhere does the article say what difference hiring Danzig would make, or why it matters at all.

[Opt1musPr1me]

Perhaps Wes Clark and Chuck Hagel were offered the gig and they both turned it down. Or perhaps they were under consideration and after some deep digging Obama's team saw that they both had to many skeletons in their closets so they look elsewhere. Danzig is probably the same thing. Richard Clarke was reportedly offered the top spot at the CIA but he passed on the gig.

[NCYvonne]

Clark is not eligible because he hasn't been out of uniform the requisite 10 years.

[theone718]

WHERE IS WESLY CLARK AND CHUCK HAGEL!!! I agree with jubei where are these HEAVYWEIGHTS!

[NCYvonne]

Why do you care if Obama appoints an anti-choice, supply side republican with a zero environmental rating to his cabinet?

Folks like you complain about Summers and Clinton and Emmanuel and beg for Hagel.

[vjoseph]

HAHAHA, nice point

[loveobamas]

Well O going to give him another job wants the big deal HP.

[jubei]

GENERAL WES CLARK AND CHUCK HAGEL WHUTZUP!

[qxav949]

Preferably Chuck Hagel.

[NCYvonne]

My, my, my! The same people who scream about all of the "centrists" and conservatives and Clintonistas in the cabinet are calling for Obama to appoint one of the most conservative members in the Senate to his cabinet?

Hagel is a staunch conservative who agrees with Obama on only one thing --the Iraq War. Yet, "liberals" are upset that he's not in the cabinet?

You people make ZERO sense.