National Security
Donilon, Blinken Join The White House Foreign Policy Staff
The Obama transition formally announced Jack Lew and Jim Steinberg as deputy secretaries of state just now. On Lew, my pal Mark Kleiman, who knows the guy, remarks, “He’s just one of those people who aren’t even tempted to cut corners, or at least that’s the way he comes across.” Interesting.
But here are two more: [...]
Fort Dix Verdict Highlights the Problem of Conspiracy Law
The jury’s guilty verdict on Monday in the case of the Fort Dix Five reflects the problem Justice Jackson highlighted in 1949 when he called criminal conspiracy an “elastic, sprawling and pervasive offense . . . so vague that it almost defies definition.”
Second Circuit to Re-Hear Extraordinary Rendition Case Today
The case of Maher Arar, the Canadian citizen arrested in New York and sent to Syria to be interrogated under torture, will be re-heard today by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York, sitting en banc.
As I reported earlier, the 34-year-old computer consultant of Syrian descent was apprehended by U.S. authorities in 2002 [...]
Obama’s Thorough Repudiation of Bush
I suppose it’s hardly the most surprising point to make about the change-we-can-believe-in president, but it was striking how willing Obama was to repudiate the Bush administration in announcing his appointments. He’s keeping Bob Gates, indeed, but with direct orders to end the Iraq war. Torture? Both he and Attorney General-designate Eric Holder stressed the [...]
5 Foreign-Policy Posts to Watch
President-elect Barack Obama’s top appointments shouldn’t be ignored, but here are crucial sub-cabinet jobs critical to the success of his foreign-policy agenda.
Productive Obama-Military Relationship Possible
When President-elect Barack Obama met with Gen. David Petraeus in July, he struck the right tone. Will the White House relationship with the military keep the same tenor?
Hmmm, Maybe Petraeus Wasn’t So Hot on Going to Syria
On Friday, I flagged an ABC story reporting that Gen. David Petraeus had requested permission to talk with the Syrian government as part of his new job as head of Central Command, only to be shot down by the Bush administration. I speculated that it might be another example of congruence with Sen. Barack Obama’s [...]
Maddow Asks — and Obama Dodges — on Afghan Mission
To follow on Ari’s post about Rachel Maddow’s interview with Obama, Maddow asked a question about the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. Obama has consistently argued for a larger troop presence there, but what’s the mission, exactly? And how would more troops accomplish it?
Obama dodged this one like he was Harry Whittington seeing Dick Cheney cleaning [...]
Palin Punctuated Equilibrium
After my deep reading of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s rhetorical skills Tuesday, I confess I wasn’t quite up to scrutinizing her talk on national security issues for deviations from the point. But, not wanting to totally fail those interested in continued examination of Palin’s style, I took a look just at the remarks as prepared [...]
Petraeus, Like Obama, Wanted Talks With Syria
Remember how I wrote earlier this month that Gen. David Petraeus’ public statements appeared to implicitly back Sen. Barack Obama’s foreign policy? Here’s another example.
According to ABC, the incoming Centcom commander — who takes over at 10 a.m. today, as a matter of fact — wanted to make a visit to the Syrian government. Of [...]
