Trump scrambles to find top national security aide

[rooster59]

Trump scrambles to find top national security aide

By Jeff Mason

 

U.S. President Donald Trump reacts during a news conference at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 16, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump, scrambling to find a new top security aide after firing his first one and being spurned by another candidate, said on Friday he has four people under consideration including acting national security adviser Keith Kellogg.

Trump ousted Michael Flynn on Monday in a controversy over the retired lieutenant general's contacts with Russia. Retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward on Thursday turned down the Republican president's offer to replace Flynn.

"General Keith Kellogg, who I have known for a long time, is very much in play for NSA - as are three others," Trump said on Twitter, without naming the other candidates.

Former CIA chief David Petraeus was previously identified as a candidate by a White House official.

Former U.S. National Security Agency head Keith Alexander and former supreme allied commander in Europe James Jones, who held the national security adviser post under former Democratic President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2010, were also thought to be under consideration. Both are retired generals.

Two others also thought to be in contention were former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton and Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster, who holds a senior post with the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.

Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general who is currently chief of staff of the White House National Security Council, accompanied Trump on a trip to South Carolina on Friday before heading to Florida. He stepped into the national security adviser role on an acting basis after Flynn's firing.

Trump may meet with candidates for the post during his weekend visit to Florida, a White House official told reporters.

Petraeus held command posts in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and served as CIA director under Obama. He quit as CIA chief in 2012 and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour charge of mishandling classified materials relating to documents he had given his biographer, with whom he had an affair.

Harward, a senior executive at Lockheed Martin <LMT.N> and former Navy SEAL, declined Trump's offer in part because he wanted to bring in his own team, according to two sources familiar with Harward's decision.

The White House chief of staff, Reince Priebus, told Fox News on Friday that Harward's family "didn't sign off" on him taking the job.

"That's all it is," Priebus said.

ACCESS TO THE PRESIDENT

Richard Haass, who held senior White House and State Department posts under Republican presidents and now heads the Council on Foreign Relations, said on Twitter the new national security advisor should insist on the right to choose staff members and have unlimited access to the president.

Haass, who Trump considered for a job in his administration, also called for rescinding a directive from the president that gave Trump's chief White House strategist, Steve Bannon, a seat on the National Security Council, a move condemned by Democrats.

Trump's administration has been dealing with the fallout from Flynn's departure for much of the week.

Flynn, a close adviser to Trump during his presidential campaign last year, was seen by Moscow as a leading advocate of friendlier ties with Russia.

Trump said on Thursday he fired Flynn because he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about conversations he had with the Russian ambassador to the United States, before Trump took office, about sanctions imposed by Obama's administration.

Trump has defended Flynn's actual contact with the ambassador, saying what he did "wasn't wrong."

The Washington Post reported on Thursday that Flynn told FBI agents last month that he had not discussed sanctions with the ambassador. Flynn's Jan. 24 interview with the FBI could expose him to charges, since lying to the agency is a felony, but any decision to prosecute would lie with the Justice Department.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-02-18

 

 

[mtls2005]

I think he has four finalists for Celebrity Apprentice - National Security Adviser, so it may take a "season" to get a "winner"?

 

In all seriousness, Kathleen Troia "K.T." McFarland is the Deputy National Security Advisor to United States President Donald Trump, and she is a close personal/family friend. It sounded like she was the main obstacle for Harward?

 

I'm not sure David Petraeus can take the job without checking with his probation officer?

 

If President-elect Donald Trump taps former Gen. David Petraeus to be his secretary of state, Petraeus has three days to notify his probation officer about his new job. He also needs to tell the probation officer before he leaves North Carolina -- and his work travel would have to be approved by his probation officer, too.

 

Petraeus, once a widely celebrated military leader who oversaw operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, was sentenced on April 23, 2015, to serve two years of probation and pay a $100,000 fine for sharing classified information with his biographer and lover, Paula Broadwell.

"The defendant shall notify the probation officer within 72 hours of any change in residence or employment," read a court judgment, which was reported first by USA Today. "The defendant shall not leave the Western District of North Carolina without the permission of the Court or probation officer. Travel allowed for work as approved by US probation office," the document also said.

[dunroaming]

Who is prepared to commit professional suicide?  It can only end in tears and embarrassment.

[mike324]

" Trump said on Thursday he fired Flynn because he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about conversations he had with the Russian ambassador to the United States, before Trump took office, about sanctions imposed by Obama's administration. "

 

Trump also said he didn't fire Flynn, but Flynn resigned. It was Steve Bannon who approach Flynn and told him he should resign for the sake of the party. So it was more like Steve Bannon that told Flyn you're fired.

[stevenl]

Who is prepared to commit professional suicide?  It can only end in tears and embarrassment.

I'll do it.

sent using Tapatalk

[dunroaming]

24 minutes ago, stevenl said:

I'll do it.

sent using Tapatalk
 

Then you win the masochist of the year award! 

[Chicog]

Masochist is the right word.

I think it would tarnish anyone's reputation.

[stevenl]

Masochist is the right word.

I think it would tarnish anyone's reputation.

No worries, I won't post here anymore after my appointment. So if you don't see me here anymore you know my real world name [emoji1]

sent using Tapatalk

[Thakkar]

3 hours ago, stevenl said:

4 hours ago, dunroaming said:

Who is prepared to commit professional suicide?  It can only end in tears and embarrassment.

I'll do it.

 

You can string four words together in a coherent sentence. Clearly,  you're over qualified.

 

T

[captspectre]

SCRAMBLES/? one more example of the media bad mouthing President trump. AND it is PRESIDENT Trump a-- h----! not trump. eat your heart out and get used to it.he seemed comletly calm and in control. not scrambling!

[boomerangutang]

                 Why not Sarah Palin?  Trump's presidency is already a sad circus, why not add more entertainment by appointing one of his greatest fans - who never fails to amuse.   Plus, her home is close to Russia, so she will have new first-hand Russian info - every time she focuses her wolf-hunting binoculars westward.

[mtls2005]

Why not Sarah Palin?

 

There's a rumor that she is up for Ambassador to Canada, although most Canadians have voiced a preference for a direct bombing campaign or a military invasion.

[boomerangutang]

Richard Haass, who held senior White House and State Department posts under Republican presidents and now heads the Council on Foreign Relations, said on Twitter the new national security advisor should insist on the right to choose staff members and have unlimited access to the president.

           Haass, who Trump considered for a job in his administration, also called for rescinding a directive from the president that gave Trump's chief White House strategist, Steve Bannon, a seat on the National Security Council, a move condemned by Democrats.

        Interesting.  Haass sounds like someone with at least some smarts.  For that reason alone, he probably won't be chosen by Bannon and Trump to fill the vacancy.  

       Note:  When Trump unwittingly and unknowingly (according to Trump's statement afterwards) signed an order to appoint Bannon to head security (it's a position that doesn't require Congressional approval, btw) ....the two of them conspired to harm America in an added way:   They declared that CIA, Pentagon, FBI, NSA could only attend intelligence briefings at the White House WHEN THEY WERE INVITED by Trump or Bannon.   Trump and Bannon would decide which topics might relate to the the intelligence/security services, and then Trump and Bannon would consider inviting them to attend.

        I can't think of a single other edict which is more harmful to the security of the US.  

 

 

[boomerangutang]

19 minutes ago, captspectre said:

SCRAMBLES/? one more example of the media bad mouthing President trump. AND it is PRESIDENT Trump a-- h----! not trump. eat your heart out and get used to it.he seemed comletly calm and in control. not scrambling!

Who's the loudest and most immature 'bad mouth' in the US right now?  Hint: it rhymes with rump.

[Thakkar]

50 minutes ago, captspectre said:

SCRAMBLES/? one more example of the media bad mouthing President trump. AND it is PRESIDENT Trump a-- h----! not trump. eat your heart out and get used to it.he seemed comletly calm and in control. not scrambling!

 

As of last Friday:

 

 

The administration blames slow Congressional approval for its inability to get things done. That's clearly not true. For previous administrations it has taken longer. Trump's administration has yet to even NOMINATE the vast majority of its positions. they ARE having a hard time finding people. That's a fact.

[Opl]

U.S. spies fear allies will stop sharing intel under Russia-friendly Trump

 

"Trump's overtures to Russia have stoked concerns that long-cherished ties with European intelligence counterparts could become strained..Trump’s off-the-cuff communication style also alarms observers in the U.S. and abroad who worry he may, inadvertently or out of bravado, reveal classified information. Another concern: Trump is so obviously distrustful of U.S. intelligence agencies that he may ignore their advice, making other nations feel it is not worth the effort to clue in the Americans."

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/trump-intelligence-russia-233899

 

Trump yells at CIA director over reports intel officials are keeping info from him

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-yells-at-cia-director-over-reports-intel-officials-are-keeping-information-from-him/

 

 

Edited February 19, 2017 by Opl

[mtls2005]

The administration blames slow Congressional approval for its inability to get things done.

 

So Messrs Ryan and McConnell are to blame?

 

Fine-tuned machine...

 

 

[boomerangutang]

New definition from Trump, for the phrase; "fine-tuned machine"

 

A rusty motor made of pewter that's been flattened by a tractor in a muddy field.

[Thakkar]

4 hours ago, boomerangutang said:

New definition from Trump, for the phrase; "fine-tuned machine"

 

A rusty motor made of pewter that's been flattened by a tractor in a muddy field.

 

Or as someone on twitter said:

Well-oiled machine? More like a well-oiled Charlie Sheen.

 

T

[Morch]

12 hours ago, Thakkar said:

 

As of last Friday:

 

 

The administration blames slow Congressional approval for its inability to get things done. That's clearly not true. For previous administrations it has taken longer. Trump's administration has yet to even NOMINATE the vast majority of its positions. they ARE having a hard time finding people. That's a fact.

 

Much of this was supposed to be sorted (or at least prepared) during the transition period. Seems like they were totally out of touch with the scope of the positions which need to be filled.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_appointments_of_Donald_Trump

 

 

 

Edited February 19, 2017 by Morch

[Thakkar]

Army Secretary withdrew. Navy Secretary withdrawing. First National Security Advisor resigned. Two potential replacements withdrew.

 

The term "clusterf@*k" originated in armed forces. These pros know one when they see one, hence no one wants to go near this administration.

 

T