Time for some DUers to freak out again: Obama chooses Nunn to head

[cali]

his Defense Dept. Transition Team, and Warren Christopher to do the same re State.

Obama taps veteran Dems for DoD, State handovers
By ANNE GEARAN – 9 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Obama has hired former Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Sam Nunn to help shepherd his Pentagon transition, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Nunn, a former Georgia senator and veteran Democratic defense adviser, was once rumored as a potential running mate for Obama. Transition spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said Nunn will perform "an informal senior adviser role throughout the defense transition process."

Nunn's role has been described by others, speaking anonymously because the transition teams have not been announced, as the leader of Obama's defense transition. Similarly, a senior administration official said former Secretary of State Warren Christopher would advise Obama on his State Department transition.

Obama's national security transition offices will work with the outgoing Bush administration to hand off management of two wars and complex diplomacy with North Korea, Russia and other nations. Obama has not announced his choices to be defense secretary and secretary of state.

Nunn and Christopher would be part of a national security brain trust for Obama that is heavy on former Clinton administration officials, including possible national security adviser James Steinberg, a former State Department official.

<snip>
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jH2HIQHJE4SOhqzPdes6uM9NNk8QD94D4C784

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. Nunn Said He Changed His Mind About DADT

It seems he is in the process of building a centrist administration...I'll wait to see the reactions of other DUers...As a center-left DUer I'm not troubled...

[CTyankee]

17. That was my first question. Well, better late than never but I remember

the whole nasty debate over DADT and I was furious with Nunn.

I guess I'll calm down now, but a lot of harm was done and he was part of the problem. I hope he's good and sorry...

[Maven]

23. As a straight DUer I'm sure you're not troubled either

Nunn is and always will be a bigot who should have been kept away from this administration with a ten foot pole.

[mmonk]

2. Nunn doesn't bother me, neocons do.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. Nunn Was In The "Realist" School...He Was Never In The "Neocon" Camp

~

[mmonk]

4. Yep. He's a conservative Democrat in the traditional sense.

I have no reservations about him as far as the Dept of Defense goes.

[lojasmo]

5. Sounds good. EOM

[onenote]

6. Obama is doing what he should be doing -- using those with experience

as key players in the transition.

I will be disappointed if Obama's cabinet and agency picks lean too heavily on veterans of the Clinton administration -- we need fresh faces, fresh ideas. But I think its a smart move to draw on the Clinton alums as key components of the transition team. Those who've been part of an administration are best situated to see pitfalls before they occur. The Clinton transition wasn't the smoothest thing in the world -- some early missteps in appointments and policy initiatives set Clinton back on his heels. I suspect those who went through that experience will be alert to avoiding the same mistakes.

[Honeycombe8]

15. Yes...Nunn and Christopher will just be helping the transition go smoothly. They've been...

there and done that, so they seem appropriate choices.

[Rowdyboy]

7. Good pick for that job

[bunnies]

8. No one should freak out about these temporary positions.

Some will though. No doubt.

[genna]

9. I'm liberal on social issues and conservative on defense

I don't want our idealism to make us a target. I was against bombing Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (Kenya) to find bin Laden. The military is not its best in urban combat.

Strike teams always seemed like a better solution mixed with diplomacy that allows our teams to be there.

When we occupy an entire nation we are responsible for civil government as well as our military objectives. We don't have enough money to do it all well.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

10. Why would we freak out over that?

They're both Dems. Maybe not the best Dems, but they're Dems and they're temporary, at that.

[TheCowsCameHome]

11. Pick the best, regardless of party.

[Alter Ego]

12. Well, Nunn would be good for SecDef--he's a Democrat, and

we need a Democrat for that spot.

And if people are going to freak out about Obama's NatSec advisory team being full of Clinton vets, then realize we'd be hard pressed to find a completely new set of individuals to run things that had no ties to Clinton's administration.

[Thrill]

13. Nunn has been advising him throughout the campaign. So whats the big deal

[riverwalker]

14. sounds good to me.

Both Sam Nunn and Warren Christopher are endorsers of the following ban on torture.

http://ctbt.nonprofitsoapbox.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=43

Declaration
Declaration of Principles for a Presidential Executive Order
On Prisoner Treatment, Torture and Cruelty

Though we come from a variety of backgrounds and walks of life, we agree that the use of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment against prisoners is immoral, unwise, and un-American. In our effort to secure ourselves, we have resorted to tactics which do not work, which endanger US personnel abroad, which discourage political, military, and intelligence cooperation from our allies, and which ultimately do not enhance our security.

Our President must lead us by our core principles. We must be better than our enemies, and our treatment of prisoners captured in the battle against terrorism must reflect our character and values as Americans. Therefore, we believe the President of the United States should issue an Executive Order that provides as follows:

The “Golden Rule”
We will not authorize or use any methods of interrogation that we would not find acceptable if used against Americans, be they civilians or soldiers.

One National Standard
We will have one national standard for all US personnel and agencies for the interrogation and treatment of prisoners. Currently, the best expression of that standard is the US Army Field Manual, which will be used until any other interrogation technique has been approved based on the Golden Rule principle.

The Rule of Law
We will acknowledge all prisoners to our courts or the International Red Cross. We will in no circumstance hold persons in secret prisons or engage in disappearances. In all cases, prisoners will have the opportunity to prove their innocence in ways that fully conform to American principles of fairness.

Duty to Protect
We acknowledge our historical commitment to end the use of torture and cruelty in the world. The US will not transfer any person to countries that use torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.

Checks and Balances
Congress and the courts play an invaluable role in protecting the values and institutions of our nation and must have and will have access to the information they need to be fully informed about our detention and interrogation policies.

Clarity and Accountability
All US personnel—whether soldiers or intelligence staff—deserve the certainty that they are implementing policy that complies fully with the law. Henceforth all US officials who authorize, implement, or fail in their duty to prevent the use of torture and ill-treatment of prisoners will be held accountable, regardless of rank or position.

[blondeatlast]

16. I think they are both sensible choices for the transition. nt

[PBS Poll-435]

18. Fine with me.

nt

[Occam Bandage]

19. Fine by me. nt

[WI_DEM]

20. Well Christopher isn't going to be SOS again but has knowlege of area and Nunn's specialty

in senate was defense so I think these are good selections for the transition.

[Overseas]

21. Time for this DUer to move on to the next story

since you've already decided how we will react.

[Sebastian Doyle]

22. Both are good picks for a transition team

doubt either one would want a permanent gig at this point in their lives anyway.

[Maven]

24. Cali, I'm sure you'll lead the pile-on

against "some DUers" who dare to criticize this horrible choice.