Posted on 02/15/2017 8:23:19 AM PST by GIdget2004
President Donald Trump offered the job of national security advisor to retired Vice Adm. Robert Harward on Monday night, and was a bit surprised when Harward responded by saying he needed a couple of days to think it over.
If, as expected, Harward accepts the job today, he is likely to bring in his own team, from deputy on down, with a focus on national security types with some experience under their belts.
I think he would look especially to people he knows from his time working for the George W. Bush NSC from 2003 to 2005. No more Fox News talking heads. Instead, I think he would try to take a Scowcroftian approach to trying to run the interagency policy formulation process -- deliberate, rigorous, careful. Just how that will fit with the style of the Twitterer-in-Chief, I don't know.
I wouldn't be surprised to see J.D. Crouch and David Trachtenberg appear at the White House gate in the next few days, with Crouch the leading candidate to be Harward's deputy. Perhaps also Juan Zarate and Mike Singh.
Harward is, like the ousted Michael Flynn, a retired military flag officer. But I think he would be very different from Flynn.
Most importantly, he is not an ideologue, as Flynn seemed to have become in the last few years. Harward thinks of himself as a national security professional -- and indeed once served on the NSC staff, during the Bush Administration. Before that, early in the Afghan war, he headed the Special Operations task force in Kandahar.
Harward also would work well with Defense Secretary James Mattis. When Mattis was chief of Central Command, Harward was his deputy. Mattis trusted him enough to put him in charge of planning for war with Iran.
(Excerpt) Read more at foreignpolicy.com ...
Not just a housecleaning. Prosecute the vermin so they can’t return!
Not good. Trump should reconsider
why?
or just because you think so?
Trump has said he intends to keep KT McFarland as Deputy NSA. I wonder how this will pay out?
As an old Bushy, how neoconny is he?
I missed that. Did he say that yesterday, after the rumors of her getting moved elsewhere?
I don’t Trust people who want to fill National Security staff with “Bush’s People”. They will not be loyal to the Trump vision for National Security and foreign policy. It seems like he is already surrounded by enemies.
Caution. Any high level former Bushie may be part of the problem. Never trust a Bushie.
Having had a hand in W’s foreign policy is not a resume enhancer.
I don’t trust Bush people on national security.
They thought leaving the borders open and the laws
unenforced had nothing to do with national security.
They also thought leaving the Saudis alone after their complicity in 9/11 was a good idea.
It was the Bush Administration that would have approved giving the Awan crime family access to Federal servers beginning in 2004.
Deepening the swamp.. yawn. No surprise.
That’s a shame. Whatever happened to hiring a staff of pro-American Americans?
Where ARE the Awan Crime Family....Anyone know?? They SHOULD be in Jail, but they are probably at Obama’s!
That’s an understandable attitude, but the choices at this point appear to be Obama’s people, or Bush’s people, or Clinton’s people. I think you need somebody who has some idea how to run the National Security staff. From what I understand, the VADM isn’t an ideologue, meaning he’ll give honest advice, but if he’s overruled he’ll salute smartly and carry on. When ideologue’s are involved, and their advice isn’t followed, massive leaks can occur.
Since they are under criminal investigation, it’s likely they are still in DC. They do have close ties to London too.
Thanks!
This article is totally anti-Trump. Celebrates the idea of Trump loyalists being removed.
Fortunately, the author supplies no evidence, no reporting, no sources - only "likely" this, and "I think" that.
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