A Lobbyist for Army Secretary?
Monday, March 16, 2009 at 7:04 am
Abu Muqawama, reading a story from The Washington Post about the cost overruns of the Army’s/SAIC’s/Boeing’s Future Combat Systems, remarks:
SAIC’s executive vice president for government affairs, Arnold Punaro, is rumored to be the next Army Secretary. It is my understanding that Punaro is a great American, but frankly, I do not see how his potential nomination overcomes this conflict of interests.
My understanding is the Obama administration still hasn’t found an Army secretary, but who knows — maybe that’s because they’re just taking time to vet Punaro. I won’t pretend to have any great insight into the process. (Punaro is also a retired Marine general, making him an unlikely pick for the job.) But if it’s true, how could the administration hire another top defense-industry lobbyist on top of Deputy Defense Secretary Bill Lynn and still expect to be taken seriously when it comes to reforming the defense budget?
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3 Comments
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Comment posted April 26, 2009 @ 1:27 pm
Perhaps it's time to select someone who is well qualified and with an unquestioned background. You will find that Arnold Punaro is not, nor never has been, a “lobbyist”, as if that should matter at all when you seek the most qualified person for a position so important as Secretary of the Army. As to being a Marine, that experience will be most helpful should he become Secretary. He served as a staff member of the US Senate for twenty four-years, fifteen of those as either the staff director or minority staff director of the Senate Armed Services Committee. As a Marine he was awarded the Bronze Star with combat V for service in Vietnam while on active duty as a young officer. He remained in the reserve, was activated for three other wars, and rose to the rank of Major General. He has been the Chairman of numerous high level studies or commissions. He is willing to give up more financial assets than any of us can imagine to serve his country again because he was asked by this President to do so. He has no financial reason to make decisions in favor of his current employer because he has to sell all his stock, options – everything- to be considered for this position. His family asks him why – and he responds, “Because I was asked to serve.”
We need Arnold Punaro as Secretary of the Army. But, if he is not qualified for that position, tell me, who is, or who is better qualified. You want change? Arnold Punaro will bring it to the Army!
Comment posted April 26, 2009 @ 8:27 pm
Perhaps it's time to select someone who is well qualified and with an unquestioned background. You will find that Arnold Punaro is not, nor never has been, a “lobbyist”, as if that should matter at all when you seek the most qualified person for a position so important as Secretary of the Army. As to being a Marine, that experience will be most helpful should he become Secretary. He served as a staff member of the US Senate for twenty four-years, fifteen of those as either the staff director or minority staff director of the Senate Armed Services Committee. As a Marine he was awarded the Bronze Star with combat V for service in Vietnam while on active duty as a young officer. He remained in the reserve, was activated for three other wars, and rose to the rank of Major General. He has been the Chairman of numerous high level studies or commissions. He is willing to give up more financial assets than any of us can imagine to serve his country again because he was asked by this President to do so. He has no financial reason to make decisions in favor of his current employer because he has to sell all his stock, options – everything- to be considered for this position. His family asks him why – and he responds, “Because I was asked to serve.”
We need Arnold Punaro as Secretary of the Army. But, if he is not qualified for that position, tell me, who is, or who is better qualified. You want change? Arnold Punaro will bring it to the Army!
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