Foreign Counsel - A Bush defector in Kerry's camp

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101040315/nbeers.html

Rand Beers says he has taken two big risks in his life. The first was in Vietnam in May 1967 when, as a desk officer at a Marine command post, he extended his tour of duty on the condition he be given a frontline rifle company to lead. "I thought I was immortal," says Beers, now 61. He survived the experience and returned to Washington in the early 1970s to settle into a long, safe career as a national-security bureaucrat.

It was political cross fire, not real bullets, into which Beers stepped when he took his second big risk, nearly 40 years later. Last spring he quit his job as President Bush's senior assistant for counterterrorism and went to work as the top foreign policy and national-security adviser for John Kerry's presidential campaign. "I wanted to defeat George Bush," Beers says. He was convinced Bush had gone to war in Iraq too soon and had taken his eye off the global war on terrorism.

Such high-level side switching is almost unheard of in Washington and was an uncharacteristic gamble for Beers, whom colleagues describe as cautious and discreet. But he knew his value to the untested Kerry campaign, which rolled him out for high-profile interviews in which he detailed his criticisms of Bush. Beers also brought organizational skills to the Kerry team, creating a shadow national-security council that holds conference calls nearly every Monday at 4:30 p.m. to discuss everything from Iraq to North Korea, scrubbing campaign positions against Kerry's past Senate votes and clearing them for speechwriters and spokespeople. His high-profile defection has exposed Beers to attacks on his record, including his performance related to the 1997 scandal over a Chinese intelligence operation to buy influence in several congressional election campaigns. The FBI informed Beers, then Bill Clinton's senior intelligence assistant at the National Security Council, of the Chinese efforts, and he opted not to tell National Security Adviser Anthony Lake. Later, Republican critics questioned the Clinton team's commitment to national security. Beers defends his decision not to notify Lake, saying the Chinese operation was small and that he asked the FBI to brief him again if it got more serious.

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[Florida_Geek]

1. I expect to see more and more of this

when Kerry is the final pick. I think a lot of Bush people will be helping Kerry one way or the other.

[Just Me]

2. Another VERY interesting development,...

,...and, whether the neocon assholes want to face it or not, there are so many Republicans jumping off the Bush "titanic"!!!

Makes me feel so fuzzy and warm all over :D

[Florida_Geek]

3. An over at the Pentagon

Rummy is very hated. And Rummy loves to send out tons of email (Snowflakes they are called)... Soon somebody will release Rummys Biggest Hits.

[nodehopper]

9. I thought they were called Rummygrams.

[KC21304]

4. I see George Mitchell is mentioned. I was hoping he would

be in a Kerry administration but last week he joined Disney so I suppose he is out. Too bad.

[Old and In the Way]

5. Me too.....

Mitchell was a superb strategist as Senate Majority/minority leader in Clinton's administration....we could use his talents in the Kerry administration....UN Ambassador?

[KC21304]

6. That would be nice, or Secretary of State.

[CRYINGWOLFOWITZ]

7. Mitchell got GHW Bush to raise taxes, he deserves a reward

I would LOVE to see him as National Security Advisor. Get someone less partison and who smiles every now and then in that post for a change.

[JoFerret]

8. Forget the reward

these defectors are acting from common sense and patriotism not for the reward. Let's hope so anyway. Just because Bush is sliding down the drain lets let the rats drown with him while welcoming those who have come to their senses. No need for rewards. Being on the side of justics and America is reward enough.

[JoeKSimmons]

10. Cool. Another war hero helping another war hero brother

We need more of this!