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Home Front: Politix
Obama to beef-up US security
2009-02-08
US President Barack Obama will overhaul the country's security network by expanding its national and international dossier, says the president's top security aide. National security adviser James Jones said the National Security Council (NSC) will be "dramatically different" under the new president, reports the Washington Post.

"The world that we live in has changed so dramatically in this decade that organizations that were created to meet a certain set of criteria no longer are terribly useful," said Mr Jones.

The retired Marine general said he will be the primary conduit of national security advice to Mr Obama. "We're not always going to agree on everything, so it's my job to make sure that minority opinion is represented to the president," said Mr Jones.

"But if at the end of the day he turns to me and says, 'Well, what do you think, Jones?,' I'm going to tell him what I think," he said.

The new structure will be outlined in a presidential directive later this week.

Mr Jones told The Post that the newly configured NSC will reach far beyond the range of traditional foreign policy issues and will include Cabinet and departmental seats at the table -- historically occupied only by the secretaries of defense and state -- on an issue-by-issue basis.

He noted that the national security community historically has meant the Defense Department, the NSC itself and a parts of the State Department, but now could be extended depending upon the circumstances to include the Energy, Commerce and Treasury Departments, law enforcement agencies, and the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
Posted by:tipper

#16  Oh shit, a super TSA.
Posted by: Rednek Jim   2009-02-08 20:38  

#15  How does this track with the demanded 10%+ reduction in the FY10 defense budget? Various and sundry "administration officials" have been telling us that there is not enough money to fund the increase in Army and Marine Corps manning that was underway, that there is not enough money to continue the various weapons programs underway and that Congress will pick and choose which programs will continue and which will be terminated based on politics rather than military necessity. This the same guy who is planning on deactivating 90% of America's nuclear arsenal? From a national security standpoint, Obama and his gang of parasites are a national nightmare.
Posted by: rwv   2009-02-08 16:52  

#14  More mall cops?
Posted by: Uncle Phester   2009-02-08 15:31  

#13  The title doesn't match the contents. Ogabe is merely rearranging the furniture. Now, if he had said that he was increasing funding and headcount...
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2009-02-08 15:30  

#12  There is quite a bit on him in Wikipedia. The question is: where does he stand of stuff? I have no idea. Will he be used as wallpaper, or will he be listened to by the Big O?
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2009-02-08 15:11  

#11  "So, this means data mining [of American citizens] is OK now that its being done by the One and not by Bush?"

Absolutely. Just check out the Daily Kos (if you dare).
Posted by: Frozen Al   2009-02-08 13:39  

#10  The retired Marine general said he will be the primary conduit of national security advice to Mr Obama

So, If he's going to act as funnel and filter for Superzero, we need to know a LOT more about him. Maybe figure out what he'll let pass and what he'll not.
Posted by: Rednek Jim   2009-02-08 12:27  

#9  National security adviser James Jones said he will be the primary conduit of national security advice to Mr Obama.

I thought Jones drank the Kool-Aid down in Guyana? Must have just been the figurative Kool-Aid.
Posted by: Glenmore   2009-02-08 11:47  

#8  Sounds like one new bureaucrat trying to position himself over others. Not just state, but the CIA, defense and homeland security.

The retired Marine general said he will be the primary conduit of national security advice to Mr Obama.
Posted by: DoDo   2009-02-08 10:10  

#7  Only if aimed at Republicans and libertarians, P2K. Or find the levers to keep wavering Dems in line.
Posted by: lotp   2009-02-08 09:10  

#6  If James Jones sez so some will come running from here to eternity.
Posted by: .5MT   2009-02-08 09:04  

#5  So, this means data mining [of American citizens] is OK now that its being done by the One and not by Bush?
Posted by: Procopius2k   2009-02-08 08:26  

#4  Sounds like another demotion for Sec State, uh, what's her name?
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2009-02-08 08:18  

#3  Touche.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2009-02-08 05:22  

#2  Obama is America.
Posted by: Bulldog   2009-02-08 05:20  

#1  But will it be directed at defending American interests, or defending Obama's interests?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2009-02-08 05:11  

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