Thursday, June 19, 2008

Obama’s foreign policy panel: Clinton redux

Reuters reports:

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has named a foreign policy panel of former U.S. officials from whom he will seek advice on weighty foreign policy matters such as Iraq and Afghanistan. …
The entire report’s here. It includes a list of panel members released by Obama headquarters.

Here’s the list (cue the piano player for "Seems like old times"):

* 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.

* DAVID BOREN - The former governor and senator from Oklahoma chaired the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence [and was one of Bill Clinton's top choices in 1994 to serve as ecretary of defense. The job eventually went to William Perry (see below) - JinC]

* WARREN CHRISTOPHER - Was Bill Clinton’s first secretary of state and also served as deputy secretary of state in the Carter administration.

* 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.

* 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 [in the Clinton administration] 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.

The panel’s Clinton dedux.

Hat tip: AC

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Who do you want on that panel, John? It looks like a lot of experience to me. I don't think it is surprising that we are missing some Bush types. The real 'heard that song before' would be more of the McSame McBush strategy of stubborn righteousness.

Anonymous said...

John -

A friend of mine e-mailed a column by David Brooks today (June 20) in the NTY. You might take a look at it.

Jack in Silver Spring

PS to redmountain - Obama promised a new politics. It looks like the same old same old.