Trump taps Robert C. O'Brien to replace John Bolton as national security adviser

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Washington Post




President Trump on Wednesday named Robert C. O'Brien, who has served as the U.S. hostage negotiator, as his new national security adviser, replacing John Bolton. "I am pleased to announce that I will name Robert C. O'Brien, currently serving as the very successful Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs at the State Department, as our new National Security Advisor," Trump said in a tweet. "I have worked long & hard with Robert. He will do a great job!"

O'Brien, a founding partner of a Los Angeles law firm, served in U.S. government roles focusing on Afghanistan and the Middle East.

Administration officials had viewed him as a safe choice given his strong rapport with colleagues at the State Department and the Pentagon. His "affable demeanor" contrasts with Bolton, who was known as a ruthless bureaucratic infighter, an administration official said last week, requesting anonymity to speak more candidly.

O'Brien has praised Trump for having "unparalleled success" in bringing home hostages, though his appearance in Stockholm in July to monitor the trial of American rapper A$AP Rocky drew guffaws as critics assailed Trump for what they viewed as an inappropriate intervention in an allied nation's legal matters. The announcement came a day after Trump publicly named five finalists for the position, none of whom were well-known.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-taps-robert-c-obrien-to-replace-john-bolton-as-national-security-adviser/2019/09/18/5e629724-da18-11e9-bfb1-849887369476_story.html

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Original article -

By Washington Post Staff
September 18, 2019 at 9:33 a.m. EDT

In a tweet Wednesday, the president said he had chosen O'Brien, who is the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs at the State Department.

Trump had praised O'Brien, with whom he has worked to try to free Americans held overseas.

This is a developing story. It will be updated.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2019/09/18/trump-taps-robert-c-obrien-to-replace-john-bolton-as-national-security-adviser/

NYT story -

Trump Names Robert O'Brien, Hostage Mediator, as National Security Adviser



By Peter Baker

Sept. 18, 2019, 9:38 a.m. ET

LOS ANGELES -- President Trump selected Robert C. O'Brien, the State Department's chief hostage negotiator, to become his national security adviser on Wednesday, moving to reconstitute his foreign policy staff even as he faces rising tension with Iran.

Mr. Trump announced the selection on Twitter shortly after saying he would also "substantially increase Sanctions" on Iran following weekend attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia that officials in Washington and the region have blamed on the Tehran government.

In choosing Mr. O'Brien to replace John R. Bolton, who left the White House last week, the president tapped a longtime lawyer who has impressed him with his work to extricate Americans detained by countries like North Korea and Turkey.

Mr. O'Brien, a founding partner of the law firm Larson O'Brien, will be Mr. Trump's fourth national security adviser in three years, the most any president has had in a first term.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/18/us/politics/robert-obrien-security-adviser.html

[exboyfil]

1. More of the same

His book. It is selling for $2.00 from Abebooks (or $5.75 with free shipping).

While America slept : restoring American leadership to a world in crisis

"Robert C. O'Brien's collection of essays on U.S. national security and foreign policy, with a forward by Hugh Hewitt, is a wake up call to the American people. The world has become steadily more dangerous under President Obama's "lead from behind" foreign policy. The Obama Administration's foreign policy has emboldened our adversaries and disheartened our allies. Indeed, Obama's nuclear deal with Iran is a 1938 moment. At the same time, the U.S. military has been cut and risks returning to the hollow force days of the 1970s. O'Brien lays out the challenges and provides the common sense "peace through strength" solutions that will allow the next president to make America great again, "--Amazon.com.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. He'll join Flynn, McMaster, & Bolton through the revolving door

because they all thought there would be some type of "cohesive" and "consistent" policy thought process that goes on in the WH, but eventually discover that there is no such... I.e., the "process" is strictly related to looking for any potential of financial gains, use as a P.R. stunt for rallys, or for ad hoc "Squirrel!!!11!!!" moments.

[Leghorn21]

8. Yep, just like this tweeter said:

”Congrats to Robert O’Brien on the impending conclusion of his career”

Link to tweet

[BumRushDaShow]

9. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How astute!!!

[Kali]

17. LOL!

[Zambero]

19. Always plenty of room under the bus

Reservations are always made well in advance for that "special" moment!

[PSPS]

6. LOL. "with a forward by Hugh Hewitt"

[BumRushDaShow]

7. That gives him a fraction of RW legitimacy

but far short of a full-on Hannity forward!

[Lonestarblue]

13. All you had to mention was the Foreword by Hugh Hewitt.

O’Brian must be a right-wing nut job or Hewitt would not endorse his book.

[machoneman]

2. Another loser?

o real prior experience with national security at this level. Only book ideas. Another perfect fit!

I say 60 days and out!

Any takers on his length of service?

[CloudWatcher]

16. 90 days ...

Hostage negotiators are (in theory) trained to be patient.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Does this mean tRump is holing himself up in the WH and seeking a negotiated settlement?

Trump is going to hold himself hostage and use the government negotiator to negotiate for the Moscow Asset Governing America.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Bolton 2.0

[BlueIdaho]

10. Hostage Negotiator?

Sounds like the right set of skills to deal with Trumpsky.

[manhattan123]

11. Clearly a winner.

If the guy who was sent to negotiate the release of A$AP Rocky from Sweden after he was arrested for assault can't do it, who can?

[JohnnyRingo]

12. Trump has worked "long and hard with O'Brien"?

He's a hostage negotiator. When has he had to work long and hard with him?

Do they have to call him in every time Trump has a spat with Melania?

[MissMillie]

21. funny! (n/t)

.

[SunSeeker]

14. Another Trump sycophant will to do whatever stupidity Shitler demands.

O'Brien has praised Trump for having "unparalleled success" in bringing home hostages, though his appearance in Stockholm in July to monitor the trial of American rapper A$AP Rocky drew guffaws as critics assailed Trump for what they viewed as an inappropriate intervention in an allied nation's legal matters.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-taps-robert-c-obrien-to-replace-john-bolton-as-national-security-adviser/2019/09/18/5e629724-da18-11e9-bfb1-849887369476_story.html 

[CloudWatcher]

15. Hostage negotiator?

Can he free us from the hostage taker in the White House? I feel like we've all been taken hostage by this lunatic.

[Mr.Bill]

18. Perfect for the Trump foreign policy, which can be described in four words:

"We'll see what happens."

[MissMillie]

20. At this rate, he'll be there a year or less

Let's hope whatever damage he does can be minimized.

[zentrum]

22. Why not just appoint Jared and

.....be done with it?

[muriel_volestrangler]

23. The good news is that he did work for Hillary in the State Dept, as well as Republicans

so he's not a total nutcase.

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/bolton-short-list-replacements

[BumRushDaShow]

24. But that won't make a difference regarding his... ahem...

soon-to-be "brief tenure" in the position (and any Hillary connection may even accelerate his receipt of an "exit tweet" )!