Veteran Mideast Envoy Ross Named to Advise Clinton on Iran Strategy

[laststeamtrain]

Source: Washington Post

Veteran Mideast Envoy Ross Named to Advise Clinton on Iran Strategy
By Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 24, 2009; Page A04

Dennis Ross, a longtime diplomatic troubleshooter, has been appointed as a special adviser to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, with responsibility for developing a strategy for engaging Iran.

The State Department notice of his appointment issued late last night did not mention Iran, and his official title is vague: adviser to the secretary of state for the Gulf and Southwest Asia. State Department officials said the title is a euphemism for Iran and issues affected by Iran's actions; it was kept obscure because Washington has not had diplomatic relations with Tehran since shortly after the Iranian revolution three decades ago.

President Obama has said he would like to engage with Iran and break through the years of antagonism between the two countries in an effort to stem Tehran's support of terrorism and pursuit of a nuclear weapon.

Ross "will provide to the Secretary and senior State Department officials strategic advice and perspective on the region" and "coordinate with senior officials in the development and formulation of new policy approaches," State Department spokesman Robert A. Wood said in a statement.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

---

http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/4786.html

[laststeamtrain]

1. NYT: Negotiator Picked for Post at State Dept.

Negotiator Picked for Post at State Dept.
By MARK LANDLER

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday appointed Dennis B. Ross, a seasoned Middle East negotiator under Republican and Democratic presidents, as her special adviser for the gulf and Southwest Asia, a portfolio that will include Iran.

Mr. Ross, whose appointment had been rumored for weeks, will provide Mrs. Clinton with “strategic advice and perspective on the region, offer assessments and also act to ensure effective policy integration throughout the region,” said the acting State Department spokesman, Robert A. Wood.

Mr. Ross’s appointment adds another prominent name to the ranks of special envoys, emissaries and advisers in the State Department. Former Senator George J. Mitchell, the special envoy for the Middle East, and Richard C. Holbrooke, the special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, have both returned from their first visits to their regions.

Unlike Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Holbrooke, who are presidential envoys, Mr. Ross will report exclusively to Mrs. Clinton.

Mr. Ross, who advised President Obama during the campaign, has worked in the State Department and the Pentagon. But he is best known for his lengthy negotiations to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Mr. Ross had advocated a tough approach toward Iran that included persuading Europe to increase economic pressure on the government in Tehran. He is a co-founder of United Against Nuclear Iran, a group dedicated to stopping the country from acquiring nuclear weapons...http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/washington/24ross.htm...

[maddezmom]

2. duplicate topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...