Brent Scowcroft was not asked by the President to return to the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board when Scowcroft’s term expired at the end of 2004. Most had assumed that Scowcroft would not only continue to serve on the PFIAB but would continue as Chairman as well.
At a weekend gathering at the home of Zbigniew Brzezinski just after the New Year, Scowcroft reportedly shared with those gathered, “I just got fired.”
Shortly after, Scowcroft gave a humdinger of a speech before the New America Foundation — along with Zbig Brzezinski — on the 6th of January.
The President has now just announced that his new Chairman of the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board will be former Goldman Sachs executive and former National Economic Advisor to the President Stephen Friedman.
Friedman was probably the least known head of the National Economic Council this country has seen — particularly given the profile of the presciently accurate Larry “Iraq War = $200 Billion” Lindsey, Gene Sperling, Laura Tyson, and Robert Rubin. He never embarrassed the President. He’s viewed as “safe” by the White House.
This from a White House Press release a short while ago:
The President intends to appoint Stephen Friedman, of New York, to be a Member of the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, for a term of two years, beginning on December 20, 2005. Upon appointment, the President intends to designate him Chairman of the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board and Member and Chairman of the Intelligence Oversight Board.
The President intends to appoint the following individuals to be Members of the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, for a term of two years:James L. Barksdale of Mississippi
Arthur B. Culvahouse of Virginia
William O. DeWitt, Jr. of Ohio
Admiral James O. Ellis (Ret.) of Georgia
Donald L. Evans of Texas
Martin Faga of Virginia
Lee Hamilton of Indiana
Ray Hunt of Texas
David E. Jeremiah of Virginia
John L. Morrison of Minnesota
Elizabeth Pate-Cornell of CaliforniaThe President intends to appoint Stefanie R. Osburn, of Virginia, to be Executive Director of the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. Ms. Osburn currently serves as Chief of Staff for the Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Management at the Central Intelligence Agency. Prior to this, she served as Chief of Staff for the Deputy Director of Center Intelligence for Community Management. Ms. Osburn, who has been with the CIA for over 20 years, has also served as Chief of Program Analysis, Chief of Policy, the Hard Target Executive Secretary, Chief of Security, Chief of Plans and Senior Program Analyst. Ms. Osburn received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia Southern.
More later.
— Steve Clemons
