Obama will have a layer of staff beneath Gates whose first political loyalty is to Obama

[Pirate Smile]

Staffing Defense

Obama announced several appointments at the Department of Defense that make clear the White House will have a layer of staff beneath Secretary Robert Gates whose first political loyalty is to the president.

They include William Lynn at the top deputy job, he's a longtime Clinton defense official and former Kennedy staffer. Michèle Flournoy, who will be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, is a leading Democratic defense policy wonk who created and runs the Center for a New American Security, a hub of thinking about counterinsurgency.

The General Counsel will be Jeh Johnson, a New York lawyer and early Obama backer and bundler who is also a former general counsel to the Air Force.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0109/Staffing_Defense.html?showall

[Captain Hilts]

1. This headline suggests Gates is loyal to Bush. He is not. nt

[Thrill]

2. Wow no Richard Danzig?

I thought he was going to be Defense Secretary if Obama didn't keep Gates

[Cha]

3. Rec'd! So many ducks

to get in a row!

[Pirate Smile]

4. kick