Obama's Top Middle East Adviser to Quit .

[Dover]

Source: WSJ


WASHINGTON—Dennis Ross, President Barack Obama's top Middle East adviser and one of the principal architects of the White House's strategies toward Iran and the Arab-Israeli conflict, is leaving his post at the end of November, according to U.S. officials.

Mr. Ross's departure marks the latest in a string of exits over the past year of senior officials who have worked on the Middle East for Mr. Obama. It comes at a particularly sensitive time, as U.S. officials are increasingly concerned about Iran's nuclear advances and the breakdown in peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

White House officials said the National Security Council has been preparing for Mr. Ross's departure for months, as he initially only committed to serve for two years. They said it was uncertain if anyone would succeed him or if his duties would be handled by other senior officials.

"We've been preparing for this for a long time," said a White House official Thursday. "Dennis was a key player in developing our strategy toward Iran, including putting unprecedented pressure on the regime."


Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204358004577030153433249854.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5

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-- It will be very interesting to see who takes his place relative to ongoing policy, particularly as regards Iran.

[leveymg]

1. The fact that Ross, who's a hawk, is leaving seems a good sign. But,

it could just mean that the sane hawks are flying away while there is time to put distance between themselves and irrational players who may be controlling events.

I just don't know which way this is going, and am worried about the belligerent tone in U.S. policy.

[Purveyor]

2. Obama Mideast Adviser Dennis Ross To Leave Post

Source: Ma'an

NEW YORK (Ma'an) -- The Obama administration's top Middle East adviser Dennis Ross is set to leave his post by the end of November, American news reports said Thursday, citing US officials.

Ross, a former diplomat and negotiator, is a key advisor to President Barack Obama on Iran and the Middle East peace process.

"After nearly three years of serving in the Administration, I am going to be leaving to return to private life," Ross said in a written statement released by the White House, according to the Wall Street Journal.

"I do so with mixed feelings. It has been an honor to work in the Obama Administration and to serve this President, particularly during a period of unprecedented change in the broader Middle East."

Read more: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=435886

[lsewpershad]

3. Time to find

a good "peacenic" not a war monger

[groundloop]

4. Gotta love the WSJ spin - "in a string of exits...."

If he only committed to serve for two years then you'd have to expect him to be leaving. People come and go all the time in positions such as this, the WSJ is trying to make it sound like the administration is falling apart.

[BlueToTheBone]

5. You don't expect a Murdoch owned paper to be

honest, do you? They have to push the hate. It's all they know.

[bemildred]

6. Good. nt