Does it bother anyone that this person is the Deputy National Security Adviser?

American Thinker ^ | April 9, 2010 | Ed Lasky

[jazusamo]

Another empty suit in a key Obama Administration policy position was in the news today, as another Obama policy fails. In reading an article today on Russia saying "nyet" to  refined petroleum sanctions on Iran,  I was reminded of Ben Rhodes, about whom I have written before as part of the coterie of Lee Hamilton acolytes that serve in key positions in the Obama foreign policy and national security apparatus.  Rhodes serves as the Deputy National Security Adviser (another Hamiltonian is Denis McDonough, the National Security Council Chief of Staff.

Hamilton's role in this administration has received very little attention, as befits an eminence grise. Recall, that James Baker and Lee Hamilton were chosen to head the Iraq Study Group. They produced a report that advocated outreach towards Iran and Syrian, pressure on Israel, and appeasement of terrorists. Later, Lee Hamilton wrote a very positive blurb for a book that was a paean to Hezbollah.

But back to Rhodes-who was one of the key drafters of the Iraq Study Group final report.

Here is Rhodes agreeing with Russian President Medvedev:

But Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes agreed with Mr. Medvedev that sanctions should not "bring widespread suffering" to the Iranian people or be designed to bring down the Tehran regime.

No...would not want to produce regime change or anything like that; better to keep in place a regime that is the number one terror sponsor in the world, tortures its own people, and is building the Bomb.

Who is Ben Rhodes and what qualifies him to be the Deputy National Security Adviser?

He was Barack Obama's speechwriter (albeit, on foreign policy topics) during the campaign. He also played a role in the Cairo speech that presented a highly fictionalized history of both Islam (praised it for accomplishments that were not Islam's) and Israel (a legacy of the Holocaust guilt).

Maybe he has a certain talent for fiction. After all, it was only  a few years ago that "he was an aspiring fiction writer working on a novel called "The Oasis of Love" about a megachurch in Houston, a dog track and a failed romance.

Rhodes has enjoyed a rapid rise -- because why?

Granted he is quite the wordsmith. That must qualify him for one of the top jobs involving our national security. It must have been a symbiotic relationship -- a talented speechwriter with a talented speech reader.

Does Rhodes have any educational experience or military experience or, for that matter, international experience? No... on all three counts.

His bio, such as it is:

Rhodes had just earned a master's degree in fiction writing from New York University when he was offered a job as a writer for Hamilton in 2002. A Manhattan native, Rhodes went on to write the Iraq Study Group Report and help draft policy recommendations for the 9/11 Commission, which Hamilton co-chaired.

Rhodes keeps in regular contact with Hamilton, who said Obama has thanked him "for making Ben available."

Rhodes said Hamilton still reviews Obama's major foreign policy addresses.

"We run most of the big foreign policy speeches by him," he said. "Just kind of like, ‘What do you think of this?'"

So far Obama's Iraq speech has been the most meaningful for Rhodes. Aides credit him with the part where Obama spoke directly to the Iraqi people. Rhodes is also behind Obama's telling the story of two Marines who died trying to stop a suicide bomber from entering an American military compound in Iraq.

During "the download" Obama had told Rhodes he wanted to end on the troops.

"I literally just spent a lot of time Googling," Rhodes said.

From fiction writing (displayed so well in the Cairo speech and the Iraq Study Group) to Deputy National Security Adviser-and he is all of 32 years old. And he is the Deputy national Security Adviser with grave responsibilities for our security.

But  rest assured, it is not like experience or accomplishments matter these days.

[jazusamo]

When you think Obama can't outdo himself in stupidity you find something like this.

[Mr. Jazzy]

Hell! The whole marxist regime of President For Life Barrak Hussein Odumbo bothers the CRAP out of me!!!

[Ingtar]

They produced a report that advocated outreach towards Iran and Syrian, pressure on Israel, and appeasement of terrorists.

This sure sounds like O'Zero's policies today.

[jazusamo]

It sure does; the whole works.

[hstacey]

Fiction? That sounds about right. His new book is “Nightmare on Pennsylvania Avenue”. Geez....

[alice_in_bubbaland]

All of the “Jackass in the Whitehouse” adviser’s bothers the living crap outta me!!!!

[cripplecreek]

John Brennan ran the company that was involved in the illegal access of candidates passport info during the presidential campaign and look where he landed.

[FormerACLUmember]

Enemy occupied Washington.

[penelopesire]

Since Obama lies all the time and this guy is a fiction writer, it’s probably a natural fit between the two. Too bad it’s a slow train wreck for the rest of us.

[Anti-Hillary]

You beat me to it. What you said!!!!

[RichInOC]

It bothers that pretty much everyone on the presidential line of succession is where they are, let alone the supporting players.

[Ben Ficklin]

NeoCon Ed Laskey is squealing because Realist Ben Rhodes, who served on the Iraq Study Group, works for Obama.

Realist Bob Gates also served on the Iraq Study Group.

The NeoCons are out, and the Realists are in.

And that didn't happen when Obama entered office, it happened in 2006.

[jazusamo]

And your point is?

George Bush’s Deputy National Security Adviser wasn’t Ben Rhodes.

[Ben Ficklin]

"And your point is?"

I already made my point. The NeoCons are out and the Realists are in.

Dick Cheney is out. Colin Powell is in.

Rumsfeld is out. Gates is in.

Paul Wolfowitz is out. Brent Scowcroft is in.

David Frum is out. Ben Rhodes is in

You NeoCons need to accept that.

But back to Rhodes. He attended Rice U where he was associated with the Baker Institute as in James Baker who is a prominent Realist mentioned in the article above who worked for Reagan and Bush. But you NeoCons said he was Joooooo hater because he chaired the Iraq Study Group. Today, Baker is a supporter of and and adviser to Obama, and is a member of that group known as Obama's 4 wise old men(along with Kissinger, Scowcroft, and Brzezinski)

But wait, there is more. Rhodes also worked for the Rudy's re-election campaign.

Here's a quiz for you.
Name the man that worked for Brzezinski under Carter, Brent Scowcroft under GHW Bush, and Obama?
Who is the man that served as Reagan's Ambassador to Israel and Obama's Envoy to Hamas?

[jazusamo]

Well, I’m not gonna do a quiz cuz I’d just have to look it up. :)

Some of the realists you speak of suck, IMO. I’ve never tried to divide up them and the neocons anyway.

If Rhodes worked for Rudy that makes him all the more outrageous. Thanks for the history lesson.