Sunday, November 30th, 2008 at 12:55 pm

Sunday, November 30th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
James L. Jones Is Obama’s National Security Advisor
By Ignatius Reilly


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According to multiple news reports, Barack Obama will name retired Marine James L. Jones, Jr. as his National Security Advisor on Monday. He will be one of several cabinet members to be named by Obama on Monday.


James L. Jones
Barack Obama is expected to name four cabinet post positions on Monday according to multiple sources. Hillary Clinton will be named Secretary of State, as we reported here. Eric Holder will be the Attorney General, as we reported here. Janet Napolitano will be named the head of the Department of Homeland Security.

A less public figure will become Obama’s National Security Advisor: retired General James L. Jones, Jr.


In other posts, I have made some rather pointed remarks on Obama’s appointments to his cabinet, stating that Obama seems to starting a Clinton Sequel Administration rather than a Change Administration. However, I have no objections to the appointment of James L. Jones, Jr. He is a true patriot and American hero.


Biography of James L. Jones, Jr.

General James Logan Jones, Jr. was born on December 19, 1943. He is the son of James L. Jones, Sr., who served as a Marine in World War II, and stayed in the military after the war, serving mostly in Europe. James L. Jones, Jr. was raised mostly in France. After childhood, Jones, Jr. attended Georgetown University, where he played forward for the much heralded Hoyas basketball team.

After college, Jones joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1967. He was almost immediately sent to Vietnam. He served his country with distinction in Vietnam, being promoted to First Lieutenant. After returning to the United States, he continued his service in the Marine Corps, and served both at home and in Okinawa, Japan. He received promotions throughout his early career and went on to attend the National War College in Washington, D.C. Upon graduation from War College, he continued his distinguished career with the Marines in many posts throughout the country and abroad.

He was promoted to General on June 30, 1999. General Jones assumed duties as the Commander of U.S. European Command on January 16, 2003 and Supreme Allied Commander Europe on January 17, 2003, a position he held until his retirement in 2007.

In 2007, General Jones served as Chairman of the Congressional Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq. In November 2007, he was appointed by Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice as a special envoy for Middle East Security.