In Beijing today I woke up to the news that Deputy National Secrurity Adviser Thomas Donilon will succeed General Jim Jones as President Obama’s National Security Adviser. This is really tremendous news — and a very smart choice by the President.
Donilon has become the Wizard of Oz of the national security decision making process — engineering an highly inclusive process of meetings and discussion dramatically different than the George W. Bush and Clinton administrations.
I’m a fan of Donilon’s realism and pragmatism — and will write more later today about Donilon’s views and possible direction after I land back in the United States.
The other bit of news I heard of course is the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to jailed Chinese peace activist Liu Xiabo. Very dramatic choice — and all the more interesting as I’m in Beijing this very moment and there is no word of this on Chinese television news or in the papers.
More when I land in San Francisco Saturday morning.
— Steve Clemons
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