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President Obama Announces Key State Department Appointments
WHITEHOUSE.GOV ^ | March 6, 2009 | n/a

Posted on 03/07/2009 9:33:24 PM PST by Cindy

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/President-Obama-Announces-Key-State-Department-Appointments/

THE BRIEFING ROOM

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

___________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 6, 2009

President Obama Announces Key State Department Appointments

WASHINGTON – Today, President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals for key State Department posts: Esther Brimmer, Assistant Secretary for International Organizations; Phil Gordon, Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs; and Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues.

President Obama said, "Each of these individuals brings a deep knowledge and expertise in their field, along with a commitment to strengthen American diplomacy to meet 21st century challenges. They will be joining a leadership team at the State Department which will be at the forefront of our effort to renew America’s security and standing in an uncertain world."

Secretary Clinton said, "In my testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I spoke about the use of smart power. At the heart of smart power are smart people, and these talented individuals are among the smartest I know. Along with the entire State Department team, I will count on and turn to these individuals for their expertise, experience, and creative vision to make good on the promises of this new Administration."

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the follow individuals today:

Dr. Esther Brimmer, Assistant Secretary for International Organizations Dr. Esther Brimmer is the Deputy Director and Director of Research at the Center for Transatlantic Relations at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at The Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Brimmer specializes in transatlantic political and security affairs.

From 1999-2001, Dr. Brimmer was a Member of the Office of Policy Planning at the U.S. Department of State working on the European Union, Western Europe, the UN, and multilateral security issues. Dr. Brimmer also served on the United States delegation to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Spring 2000 and from 1995-1999, Dr. Brimmer managed projects as a Senior Associate at the Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict. From 1993-1995, Dr. Brimmer was a Special Assistant to the Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs. Dr. Brimmer is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and was formerly a member of the Executive Board of Women in International Security.

Dr. Philip (Phil) Gordon, Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Dr. Philip Gordon is Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, in Washington, D.C., where he has worked since 2000. Prior to joining Brookings, Dr. Gordon was Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council under President Bill Clinton. At the NSC he played a key role in developing and coordinating NATO policy in the run-up to the Alliance's 50th Anniversary summit in Washington, D.C. He has held teaching and research posts at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC; INSEAD, in Fontainebleau, France and Singapore; and the German Society for Foreign Affairs in Bonn.

Dr. Gordon has a Ph.D. and M.A. in European Studies and International Economics from Johns Hopkins University (SAIS) and a B.A. in French and Philosophy from Ohio University. His working languages include French, German, Italian and some Spanish. He has published a number of books and articles on international relations and foreign policy and is a frequent contributor to major publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, International Herald Tribune, and Financial Times. From 2007-08 he was a foreign policy advisor and leader of the Europe expert group for the Obama for America campaign.

Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer is Co-Founder, Chair and Co-CEO of Vital Voices Global Partnership, an international nonprofit that invests in emerging women leaders – pioneers of economic, political and social progress in their countries. Prior to founding Vital Voices, Verveer served as Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady in the Clinton Administration and was chief assistant to then First Lady Hillary Clinton in her international activities. Verveer also took the lead in establishing the President’s Interagency Council on Women, which serves as a model for governments to address issues of concern to women.

Previously, Verveer served as Executive Vice President of People for the American Way, a civil rights and constitutional liberties organization where she played a key role in the passage of several landmark civil rights bills. She was Coordinator for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs for the U.S. Catholic Conference, Field Manager of Common Cause and worked in the U.S. House and Senate as Legislative Director and Special Assistant respectively. Verveer is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Women’s Foreign Policy Group, the Washington Institute on Foreign Affairs and Women In International Security.

The President’s decision to nominate an Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues is unprecedented and reflects the elevated importance of global women’s issues to the President and his entire Administration.


TOPICS: Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: americandiplomacy; bho44; bhocabinet; bhostatedept; billclinton; brimmer; clinton; commoncause; democrat; democrats; diplomacy; globalwomen; globalwomensissues; gordon; hillary; hillaryclinton; obama; paw; smartpower; soshillary; verveer

1 posted on 03/07/2009 9:33:24 PM PST by Cindy
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To: piasa; backhoe

ping


2 posted on 03/07/2009 9:33:44 PM PST by Cindy
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To: Cindy

I thought Bill Clinton would be the ambassador to women’s issues worldwide. He’s already working the job.


3 posted on 03/07/2009 9:35:35 PM PST by nufsed
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To: Cindy

He forgot to mention the appointment of Phil Pockets as assistant secretary of international financial stimulus.


4 posted on 03/07/2009 9:35:56 PM PST by FlyingEagle
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To: Cindy
They will be joining a leadership team at the State Department which will be at the forefront of our effort to renew America’s security and standing in an uncertain world."

Being fluent in Obonics, I am able to interpret this:

They will be front-and-center when it comes to blaming America for the world's problems.

5 posted on 03/07/2009 9:38:12 PM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all. -- Texas Eagle)
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To: Cindy

Will Melanne Verveer be moving her husband and kids to D.C. with this new job?


6 posted on 03/07/2009 9:38:17 PM PST by Wally_Kalbacken
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To: FlyingEagle

Phil Pockets!!! I love it!


7 posted on 03/07/2009 9:39:00 PM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all. -- Texas Eagle)
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To: Cindy
The President’s decision to nominate an Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues is unprecedented and reflects the elevated importance of global women’s issues to the President and his entire Administration.

And which "global women's issues" would those be, hmmm? I'm betting it won't involve confronting Muslims over their treatment of women.

8 posted on 03/07/2009 9:40:05 PM PST by LibFreeOrDie (Obama promised a gold mine, but he will give us the shaft.)
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To: Cindy
...and Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues.

Really? We can't do without an Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues?

9 posted on 03/07/2009 9:40:15 PM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all. -- Texas Eagle)
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To: Cindy
Aunt Esther at the State Department?

Don't make us use these nucular bombs, suckah!!

10 posted on 03/07/2009 9:41:32 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet ("To insist on strength is not war-mongering. It is peace-mongering." Barry Goldwater)
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To: Texas Eagle
"Obonics"

Perfect...

11 posted on 03/07/2009 9:41:51 PM PST by THX 1138
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To: Texas Eagle

Gee....wonder what the Ambassadorat-Large for Global Women’s Issues salary and department budget will be.....we are so flush with cash....we need to continue adding positions..../sarc


12 posted on 03/07/2009 9:42:30 PM PST by goodnesswins (Conservative and fighting for freedom and liberty....whether you like it or not.)
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To: Cindy
a lot of freaking globalists...
13 posted on 03/07/2009 10:09:36 PM PST by stylin19a (Obama - the ethical exception asterisk administration)
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To: Cindy
At the heart of smart power are smart people, and these talented individuals are among the smartest I know.

I find this strangely unpersuasive...

14 posted on 03/07/2009 10:11:16 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: hinckley buzzard

Your answer indicates that you are vastly more intelligent than the “smartest” people Hillary knows.


15 posted on 03/07/2009 10:17:16 PM PST by Cindy
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To: Texas Eagle
We can't do without an Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues?

She'll probably be sent to Afghanistan to meet with the "more moderate" elements of the Taliban.

Presumably the ones that merely beat women on the street

Rather than shoot them in the back of the head.

various format videos here She was a mother of seven.

16 posted on 03/07/2009 10:17:45 PM PST by El Gato ("The Second Amendment is the RESET button of the United States Constitution." -- Doug McKay)
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To: Cindy
Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues?

Somebody pass me a barf bag.

17 posted on 03/07/2009 10:19:41 PM PST by Larry381 ("in the final instance civilization is always saved by a platoon of soldiers" Oswald Spengler)
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To: Cindy

>Secretary Clinton said, “In my testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I spoke about the use of smart power. At the heart of smart power are smart people, and these talented individuals are among the smartest I know. Along with the entire State Department team, I will count on and turn to these individuals for their expertise, experience, and creative vision to make good on the promises of this new Administration.”

are you saying that secy of state condi rice was not smart?


18 posted on 03/07/2009 10:32:05 PM PST by ken21 (the only thing we have to fear is fdr deja vu.)
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To: Cindy

Shouldn’t that be “President Obama READ, “Each of these individuals brings a deep knowledge and expertise in their field.......”?


19 posted on 03/08/2009 5:22:59 AM PDT by jch10
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To: Cindy
"In my testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I spoke about the use of smart power. At the heart of smart power are smart people, and these talented individuals are among the smartest I know.

Hey Hillary, are you speaking for your translators also???

20 posted on 03/08/2009 1:37:33 PM PDT by varon (Allegiance to the constitution, always. Allegiance to a political party, never.)
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