Taylor Marsh – TaylorMarsh.com – News, Opinion and Weblog on Progressive Politics

BY TAYLOR MARSH

Contrary to others who think Secretary Gates is the one to note, the appointment of Gen. James Jones sends the strongest and clearest
message on how Obama tends to manage his supersized roster of talented superstars.
Having no personal or political agenda, as well as a strong disciplinary background
that obviously gets who is in charge, Jones has the opportunity to really coordinated
and keep the agenda focused on behalf of the boss.

Via
Democracy Arsenal’s Ilan Goldenberg (an excellent post on Jones)
who cites an old article on the NSC, which gives you a guideline of what exactly
Jones can do, as well as the importance of the national security adviser, whom
I define as the honest broker in the mix. First, the
NSC, then Jones’ role:

* Managing the president’s daily foreign policy activity, including his communication with foreign leaders and the preparation and conduct of his trips overseas; * Coordinating the process by which policy on major foreign and national security issues is made by ensuring that those with strong stakes in the issue are involved in the process, and that all realistic policy options have been considered and fully analyzed—including options not favored by any agency—before they reach the president and his senior advisers for decision; * Driving the policymaking process to make real choices, in a timely manner; * Monitoring implementation of the decisions made by the president and his advisers. [...] The National Security Adviser as “outside leader.” The conduct of negotiations, exposition of administration policy, announcement of major policy initiatives, and public defense of policy positions are tasks best left to the president and his appointed heads of executive departments. Once the assistant for national security affairs takes on these public roles, he either displaces those, like the secretary of state, who are nominally responsible for outside leadership functions (as did Kissinger and, to a lesser extent, Sandy Berger), or feeds unhealthy competition among top officials (as was the case between Brzezinski and Vance). Of course, the growing politicization of foreign policy and the almost insatiable media demand for official commentary can at times require the public involvement of the adviser or even some on his staff. But such activity should be the exception, not the rule. The National Security Adviser as “odd man out.” The president will be best served if his principal national security officials work well together as a team. The adviser needs to be a part of that team. He should not be the dominant player (like Kissinger), or a weak player (like Reagan’s first four advisers, who could not enforce discipline in the policy process), or a player in competition with other team members (as Brzezinski was). Like Scowcroft under Bush and Lake and Berger under Clinton, the adviser can and must be a peer, balancing his role as honest broker with that of intimate presidential adviser. Any incumbent who abuses his advisory role (for example, by cutting out critical perspectives or convening meetings without key officials being present) undermines his ability to manage the policy process effectively.

As Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), there can be no doubt that Jones
knows the diplomatic land. He also is in place because of Obama’s commitment to reinvigorate our efforts in Afghanistan. Additionally, he’s not exactly flamboyant. Leaks also aren’t
his way. Obama has also sent a message to the Armed Forces through his pick of Jones. The
respect of the rest of Obama’s team for him also means he’s unlikely to be challenged. “No drama Obama” and Jones fit.

As for Jones sitting on the Chevron board, which has environmentalists in a tizzy, with his chairmanship of the Institute for 21st Century Energy sending them around the twist. This is mainly due to the Institute’s stance against global warming issues, though that shouldn’t surprise anyone because it’s a U.S. Chamber of Commerce entity.

As national security adviser, regardless of his views that energy is a national security issue (it is), Jones will not be in charge of energy policy. Picking gnat crap out of pepper, as far as I’m concerned, because the last thing we need is for environmentalists picking Obama’s national security chief, which no one is suggesting, but given the role Obama has chosen for Jones their criticism misses the mark. Eye on the ball, please.