Gen. Jim Jones, USMC (Ret)
As most know Gen. Jones recently “stepped down” from his post as National Security Advisor to the President.
Jim served in Vietnam with distinction, progressed through important assignments in the Marine Corps and I met him when he was the senior aide to the commandant, Gen. Al Grey.
Jim was a leader of the first order and one of our best and brightest.
He was a former Marine Corps commandant and former Supreme Allied Commander for NATO and has left the NSC after less than two years.
He is being succeeded by Thomas Donilon, a Democratic Party activist who has closer ties to the liberal establishment than did Gen. Jones and who was said to have fought with SecDef Bill Gates.
In his “retirement” ceremony at the White House there was little praise for Gen. Jones and lots of talk of a fictitious “end to the combat mission in Iraq,” and a “refocus” on the war on Al Qaeda.
Some may wonder why he took the job at the NSC.
Knowing Jim he probably though he could make a contribution to an inexperienced President and most of the White House.
Outside DoD can anyone name a combat veteran now in the White House?
I was surprised that Jim Jones lasted as long as he did in his NSC position.
Fair winds and following seas to a great Marine and a great American.