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Big Personnel Moves in Progressive Foreign Policy Circles
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(Joseph Cirincione)
Wow. I've just confirmed that nuclear non-proliferation giant Joseph Cirincione is moving out of his long-time nest at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and is moving to the Center for American Progress.
Cirincione is easily the country's leading progressive voice on nuclear non-proliferation and is widely respected on defense policy issues. He was one of the key personalities in the recent film, "Why We Fight", directed by Eugene Jarecki.
(Jon Wolfsthal)
Recently, Cirincione's brilliant deputy, Jon Wolfsthal left Carnegie to become a Fellow in CSIS's International Security Program.
That leaves the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace without a leading personality -- for the moment -- in the nuclear non-proliferation field. Perhaps Jessica Mathews has someone lined up, or maybe Wolfsthal will be getting a phone call soon.
(Robert O. Boorstin)
The next big news is that it is rumored -- though confirmed by two sources to me -- that Robert "Bob" Boorstin, who is currently Senior Vice President for National Security and International Policy, is joining the senior public policy staff in the corporate communications division of Google. This is a fascinating move, and Bob is a 'framing' genius -- so it will be interesting to see what he does to Google and they to him.
Losing Boorstin in the national security "re-framing" arena at this time does not thrill me as his voice is very important -- and now doubt he'll have to mute it while piling up Google options.
More later.
-- Steve Clemons
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Wow! Joe totally shaped the Carnegie program after taking it over from Sandy Specter. I can't think of anyone else with the clout and charisma to pull off the annual conference or any of the other major meetings they sponsor. Maybe I should update my resume....
It's like the game of musical chairs. Where's the fresh thinking or new thinking with a completely different paradigm. It's same-o-same-o faces in this closed-circle club.
The rich keep getting richer.
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http://www.drmpro.net
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I remember you claiming that Jeff Gedmin was headed to USUN for sure. Last I checked, he is still at Aspen Berlin.
Is this news of the same reliability level?
J -- Re-read what I wrote about Jeff Gedmin. He certainly was going to the UN, but as I reported his candidacy was fragile. He had told many of his friends and colleagues that he was in line. Bolton wanted him -- but when word leaked out on this blog and then in the German media that he was a candidate for the "deputy" slot, the foreign service alumni went on the war path and preempted his appointment. He lost out to Alejandro Wolff, a career foreign service officer, who seems to be doing quite a good job. Just because one reports something that is in the works and has not happened does not make it untrue. Others who investigated the Gedmin matter -- particularly the Financial Times Germany and Handelsblad, as well as Die Zeit -- found their own confirmations of this same story. Gedmin and his friends have always been somewhat miffed at this blog for undermining his appointment before the powers at be had fully signed off.
So, hope that satisfies your comment about Gedmin.
About Cirincione and Boorstin, the appointments do not appear to be fragile....best,
Steve Clemons
I saw Cirincione on C-Span a week or so ago. I would not give you ten cents for the guy. He seemed like the standard progressive these days. He must have had at least 3 calls from right wing nuts claiming "liberals" were "killing" American soliders by providing aid and comfort to the enemy. Or that disagreements with the President was, essentially, treasonous. Instead of fighting back, instead of responding with passion, the guy responded in a pleading tone of voice. "well, I'm sorry you feel that way. That is not what I am calling for". All brains, no passion. No heart. No fighting spirit. Spare me these people when I am involoved in fight.
Steve,
Fair response. I actually thought Gedmin would make a decent choice -- he is smart and thoughtful, much more so than the man for whom he would have worked. Yes, he is a conservative, but then again, this is a conservative Administration.
Carnegie just sent out the official announcement. George Perkovich is taking over the Nonproliferation Project. This may sustain their role in major nonproliferation issues, particularly Iran and N. Korea, but it weakens their role in U.S. nuclear weapons policy issues (one of Jon Wolfsthal's strengths). I'm not sure there really is anyone out there in the think tank world, except the Arms Control Association, with a depth of expertise in U.S. nuclear weapons policy....
This probably matters to few, except me, but I care because there are links between the two, and nonproliferation experts often get the details wrong on U.S. nukes policy.
Just FYI -- both CAP and Carnegie have now confirmed this moves, which were planned to be officially announced on May 1st. But TWN's report pushed up the release date of the news.
Best,
Steve Clemons
The Washington Note
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