CNN is announcing that accoring to "two sources close to the Obama transition", retired Marine Corps general James L. Jones is President-elect Obama's leading choice to become national security adviser in the White House.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...
The sources said Jones has been given the impression by the President-elect that the job is his if he wants it. But the officials said there are still private discussions underway and no final decision has been made.
The discussions are focused on precisely how much power Jones will have in the staff job since he is used to being in a command role. Among his many posts, Jones served for several years as the operational commander for NATO.
One person close to the transition noted Jones is a bipartisan figure who has warm relationships with both current Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who may stay on the job for at least a brief period, as well as Sen. Hillary Clinton, who is now on track to be nominated as Secretary of State after Thanksgiving.
The 65 year old general is a former Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR) (2003-2006) and the Commander of the United States European Command (COMUSEUCOM) (2003-2006); and served as the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps (July 1999-January 2003). Jones retired from the United States Marine Corps on February 1, 2007 after 40 years of service.
Following his retirement from the military, Gen. Jones became president of the Institute for 21st Century Energy (an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce) and chair of the board of directors of the Atlantic Council of the United States. He also served as chair of the Independent Commission on Security Forces of Iraq, sponsored by the Atlantic Council of the United States.
In 2007, Jones served as Chairman of the Congressional Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq, which investigated the capabilities of the Iraqi police and armed forces. In November 2007, he was appointed by the United States Secretary of State as special envoy for Middle East Security.
In June 2008, MSNBC's First Read reported that General Jones was among those being discussed with Senators and Representatives by the vetting team of Senator Barack Obama as a possible Vice Presidential candidate. During the final debate between Obama and McCain, Obama mentioned Jones as one of the people he would "surround" himself with in regards to national security matters, creating speculation of a possible cabinet position for Jones.
Your thought's on Jones as NSA? Would he be a good choice or is it a bad one? If bad why? And who would be better qualified?
UPDATE: An other side of James L. Jones is that he's involved with big business. He has links to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and he's on the board of several big corporations:
Jones joined the Board of Directors of the Boeing Corporation on June 21, 2007. He serves on the company's Audit and Finance Committees and on May 28, 2008, Jones was elected to the board of directors of Chevron Corporation.
Also Jones was asked twice by Condoleezza Rice to be Deputy Secretary of State after the resignation of Robert Zoelick but he declined. Now does it speak to his advantage that he declined or disadvantage that he was asked for a position in the Bush administration...