Obama’s Newest Secretary of the Army
[Guest post by DRJ]
In 2006, the New York Times exposed the SWIFT program, the Bush Treasury Department’s top-secret program to monitor terror funding. The Times’ article was published over the strong objections of the Bush Administration. As detailed by Stewart Baker at The Volokh Conspiracy, that exposure ultimately resulted in a financial “terrorist safe haven” in Europe.
The New York Times had earlier leaked news of Bush’s NSA surveillance program that monitored international telephone calls and e-mail messages linked to suspected Al Qaeda members.
Last November, the Obama Administration announced it would appoint Solomon B. Watson IV, a former Times’ senior vice president and chief legal officer, to be Secretary of the Army. Watson retired from the Times at the end of 2006:
“The New York Times Company announced today that Solomon B. Watson IV, senior vice president and chief legal officer, plans to retire at the end of the year.
“Sol’s advice and counsel have been important elements in guiding the Company through a period of unprecedented legal activity and governance change,” said Janet L. Robinson, president and chief executive officer. “And in his more than three decades of service, he has provided strong leadership, helping to develop the next generation of legal executives. In addition, he has been a champion for diversity and inclusion. We are deeply grateful for Sol’s contributions to the Times Company.”
“My work at The Times has been exciting and rewarding, and has spanned many changes in the Company’s business and in the legal environment,” Mr. Watson said. “But after a long and successful career, I believe it is time to retire.”
Watson was the sole 2006 Media Law Research Center (MLRC) First Amendment Leadership Award Recipient, an award that “honors those individuals who have made stellar contributions to the development of the law of the First Amendment and the institutions that promote the First Amendment.” Perhaps this was an award for Watson’s lifetime of newspaper service but the timing is curious.
On the other hand, in Senate hearings last week, Watson said he was not involved in the decision to publish the two New York Times’ article and did not support their publication:
“Mr. Watson said the newspaper’s publisher and its top editor had made the decision to run the articles. He said that he had not personally played a role in vetting their legality because he focused more on corporate matters, but that another Times lawyer who dealt with newsroom issues had decided it was lawful for the articles to be published.
“There was not a violation of the law to publish those stories,” Mr. Watson said.
But, pressed repeatedly by Mr. McCain to say whether he thought their publication was justified, Mr. Watson eventually criticized that decision.
“Senator, my opinion is that the decision was justified,” he said. “Were it my decision to make, I would not have made that decision. So I think, that is to say that — no.”
What qualifies Watson to be Secretary of the Army? From his MLRC biography:
Mr. Watson graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in English from Howard University in 1966, and served in the Army as a lieutenant in the military police corps from 1966 to 1968. While stationed in Vietnam, he was awarded the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medals. In 1971, he earned his juris doctorate degree from Harvard Law School.”
I honor Watson’s service but I don’t think this appointment is based on his Army career. My guess is the Obama Administration wants Watson to be an advocate for the First Amendment and for diversity, especially as the Army struggles with changes to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
H/T Instapundit.
— DRJ
I just noticed the end of this post was missing and the comments were turned off. I’m not sure what happened but I think it may have something to do with the ongoing website work. I restored the missing text at the end of the post and comments are now turned on.
DRJ (daa62a) — 3/26/2010 @ 8:47 pmSince when is experience with a company that has no problem exposing classified information a disqualification to be Sec of the Army?
Watson knows Holder will never go after him when he leaks anything. It’s Obama’s way of making sure the Times has reliable sources.
MU789 (809a09) — 3/26/2010 @ 10:16 pmFrom the NYT!
Sigh.
I guess he will do anything for the “enchanting” MSM, including hiring them.
Patricia (e1047e) — 3/26/2010 @ 10:34 pmMeanwhile, in other appointments. Just saw this in the Friday night dump.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top/all/6932468.html
Vermont Neighbor (0e568c) — 3/26/2010 @ 11:27 pmGreat. Almost 15 months into his term and he still doesn’t have the top TSA intelligence/security position filled. In fact, he doesn’t even have a nominee.
DRJ (daa62a) — 3/26/2010 @ 11:31 pmDRJ – In an ideal world I’m sure the troops would be open minded enough not to hold the nominee’s position at the NY Times while it was publishing national security secrets damaging to our war on terror against him. We don’t, however, live in an ideal world. This is a stupid pick.
daleyrocks (718861) — 3/26/2010 @ 11:40 pmdaleyrocks – this is Obama …
Need anything more be said ?
Alasdair (205079) — 3/27/2010 @ 12:25 amDRJ
judging by his total run of appointments, maybe NOT picking is the highest civic duty Obama can do right now?
EricPWJohnson (c606d2) — 3/27/2010 @ 12:38 amThe federal government plays an important role in protecting our nation. As 9/11 showed, some threats can come from airplanes so we need a TSA intelligence chief.
DRJ (daa62a) — 3/27/2010 @ 12:56 amIt’s actually quite bizarre, even for this guy. History-wise, his chapter is going to be a very strange, sad read.
Vermont Neighbor (0e568c) — 3/27/2010 @ 4:00 amCorrection needed: Mr. Watson was nominated to be general counsel or chief lawyer to the Army and not the Secretary of it.
From the lede:
Senate Republicans on Tuesday grilled President Obama’s nominee to be the Army’s general counsel…
It is odd that the general counsel needs to be confirmed by the Senate.
SteveMG (bdf9df) — 3/27/2010 @ 7:15 amSimple fix, cut the tap dance and double talk and be up front about it, appoint the Underpants Bomber TSA chief, and let Major Nidal Hasan be Secretary of the Army.
They’ll fit right in with Obama’s motley collection of misfits, terrorist enablers, and tax cheats.
ropelight (dfb431) — 3/27/2010 @ 7:22 amAdding to what SteveMG said, the Secretary of the Army is John McHugh, a former Republican Congressman from New York whose resignation led to the Dierdre Scozzafava fiasco.
Dave N. (239562) — 3/27/2010 @ 8:34 amtesting
Enoch_Root (174a66) — 3/27/2010 @ 4:23 pmwatson’s qualifications are as a lawyer, not a journalist. his job was to counsel on the legality of the stories, and to ensure they complied with the first amendment — they did. the publisher had final say-so. on the compensation, plenty of companies pay their executives pensions and bonuses after they retire – isn’t that what we all work for? doesn’t mean they can’t continue to be good executives, as this guy obviously was.
jeff (adecb0) — 4/1/2010 @ 5:51 amI think somebody really does need to change that title, please. It doesn’t help the integrity of this website.
George (6df7cf) — 4/1/2010 @ 8:23 am