Three weeks after I published my piece urging an overhaul of the Pentagon’s soft-on-China ‘Defense Policy Board’ (DPB), President Trump did just that. Quietly, on the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Defense Department removed eleven members of its important DPB — including former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright, former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and Rudy De Leon, a former Deputy Defense Secretary at the Pentagon.
This is a significant, but underreported development.
As I noted in my earlier ADN piece:
The Pentagon’s top leadership relies on the Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee, also known as the Defense Policy Board (DPBAC or DPB) for “independent, informed advice and opinion concerning major matters of defense policy.”
Operating through the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USD-P), the 13-member DPB consisting of prominent outside experts provides advice to the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense, focusing on “long-term, enduring issues central to strategic planning.”
Sadly, today most of these experts are “soft on China” and at odds with President Trump’s forceful strategic response to the growing China menace. An overhaul of the Board’s membership is urgently overdue.
China expert Bill Gertz also noted in The Washington Times that “Chief among those on the board with views that clash with Mr. Trump is former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, architect of the conciliatory U.S. policies that argued in favor of unfettered economic and diplomatic engagement with the communist regime.”
Four other members, Adm. Gary Roughead, Madeleine Albright, Jamie Gorelick, and Jane Harman were all added to the policy board in 2011 by President Obama “as part of an effort to slant it in a Democratic direction,” noted Gertz.
Foreign Policy reported that members of the Trump administration had tried to remake the board with members from outside the D.C. establishment, and more sympathetic to the president and his views, but had received pushback from then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper and acting Undersecretary for Policy James Anderson.
I have known Dr. Anderson for decades since serving as Marine Corps officers together in the 1980s. He is a solid conservative with a solid intellect.
Both Esper and Anderson, who were removed earlier this month by Trump, reportedly argued to keep the board in place to allow for policy continuity, according to Foreign Policy. Sadly, without knowing more from Esper or Anderson, it appears that some of the ‘continuity’ these members were promoting was a failed soft-on-China policy.
It is not yet known who will be replacing these removed members. However, a U.S. Defense official told Fox News: “I am grateful to the departing board members, many of whom have served for decades. As we adapt the Department for great power competition, I look forward to naming new board members in the coming days.”
We can expect the replacements before January 20, 2021. Hopefully, they will all have valuable, credible expertise and experience to add value to the DPB. But they should also reflect and represent the critical new need for a tough-on China containment strategy.
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AmericanActionNews.com.
Glad to hear Trump took the proper steps by dismissing those who obviously were working against his policies on China. Sadly, Biden is in bed with China so I am sure he will cave to them. Such a dangerous man to have as POTUS. God help us all.
Unfortunately his replacement (following his stroke in the next few weeks) will be even more dangerous.
LMAO GOOD ONE
Ship them all to CHINA! Degrading WE THE PEOPLE!
The problem is that this action is too little, too late. Should have been done three years ago.
Plus he should have removed the top 4 from every Government Agency.
Totally agree But he is doing it now. If the USA had voted totally for President Trump we would not be in this position NOW. How stupid are we American going to be, Those who voted for Biden really voted for Harris as Biden will be removed within months after he is sworn in Obama will pull her strings as Harris was Obamas first choice. Which the American citizens on the whole would never have voted for Harris
WELL YOU MICKEY IT IS EASY TO BE IN THE BACKGROUD AND SAY WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE PLEASE TELL ME HOW IN THE HELL THE POSTUS COULD HAVE TAKEN ON ANYTHING ELSE HE HAS BEEN BOMBARDED SINCE DAY ONE SO APOLOGIZE FOR REMARK IT IS UNCALLED FOR AND UNWANTED YOU HAVE NO CLASS!! SURE YOU ARE NOT A TRUE AMERICAN
If the congress or even the GOP had stood behind & worked with President Trump, it would have been a whole different ball game now
About time. I am amazed on how much our president Trump has accomplished in just 4 years. He came in as a hated outsider and was fought all the way. I thank God for all the answered prayers. Please keep praying.
I really love President Trump, it is time to clean house and get rid of all these corrupt traitors from our government!
Like I said If the HGOP had worked with President Trump it would have been a different ball game. & as he was cleaning the swamp they were running scared as too many of them have had their fingers in the till for many years. & President Trump was gradually exposing them one by one
Just take CA. Brown said he dated ( Cough, cough) Harris for years. Feinstein Chinese spy Swalwell Chinese spy, Polosi nephew * as gov. of the state of CA. I believe he son or nephew was also on a Ukraine oil board with Kerry’s Step son. Water paid her family on campaigns for a district she does not live in.
Do not forget Sen. Harry Reid of NV son who wanted the BLM land just north of Las Vegas By the Air Force base to sell to the Chinese Harry Reid once said what good is it to be a Senator if you cannot get money
Then we could move state by state, The Clinton’s, The Obama’s & the Biden’s for years going back to when Biden first ran for the senate. he has skimmed money from the American Taxpayer, Check out the expenditures just on his home in Delaware while Biden was VP
With this short list . We American’s still do not investigate & get rid of the slime crime in Wash. DC. Check out how many are almost broke going into politics & come out multi millionaires
dr 30nov20
How does this work, say a total of 65000v have come in by 9.00pm deadline? By11.00pm Trump has35000v and Biden has 30000v a difference of 5000v? Trump wins by the difference, however, dems. with a wave of a magic wand are able to manufacturer a top up to Biden’s win by 10000v wherever that turned up from, So now Biden is declared the winner by fraud. And. if Trumps count turns up 800v from some storage dump, Biden still wins by 9200v . This is exactly how the dems will win the game add or minus in favor of Biden. In view of this, vote counting should be from the beginning with witnesses from both parties present.
10Nov20
There is no two ways about“Dominion Voting Machines“that democrats applied to strategic counties to overturn election results in favor of Joe Biden. These machines were placed well in advance by professionals operating the machines to select voting for a specific person of their choice namely JBiden as opposed to DJTrump. Wherever these machines were hooked too, to manipulate exclusive results for a candidate, is fraudulent, with intention to hurt the other party, in doing so, has determined these facts, then fresh elections to be recalled by the FEC to fix a date where both parties observe recounting and transparency. Dominion Voting machines are manipulative and can be fixed. With this in view, consider Joe Bidan an illigitmate P-elect as being fully aware of this fraudulent act. This case should now rest with the nationsSupreme Court to null-n-void the Nov03 electionsas being disqualified and manipulative.
dr 08nov20
CALL ON ALL AMERICANS TO RISE UP IN SUPPORT OF PTRUMP WITH PROCESSIONS IN ALL STATES TO PROTEST VOTER FRAUD AT POLLING BOOTHS LIKE TAMPERING WITH VOTERS LIST ETC. THIS ELECTION SHOULD BE INVALIDATED IMMEDIATELY OR OBSTRUCT/RESIST DEMOCRATS TAKE OVER OF THE ELECTIONS BY MASSIVE FRAUD AND SHOULD BE CHARGED. ALL THE ACCUSATIONS OF PTRUMP AND ALL THE WRONGS DEMS CLAIMED TRUMP OFF WAS ACTUALLY A SMOKE SCREEN WHILE THEY WERE BUSY WITH THEIR UNDER-LYING CRIMES TO WIN THE ELECTIONS. RISE UP REPUBLICANS THIS IS NOT OVER BE READY TO CHALLENGE DEMS ON THE ROAD ANY WHERE YOU SEE THEM DRIVE THEM OUT OF THIS COUNTRY BY ANY MEANS. SWAMP LEADER/FOUNDER OF 47YRS BIDEN WORKS FOR UKRAINE, CHINA, RUSSIA etc. FOR CONTINUED DEALS FOR THE WEALTHY AND HIS FAMILIES.
dr 15oct20
Here’s a known fact, sleepy Joe (😎) Biden of 47 years in govt., is the founder and creator of the Swamp Creatures, as the nemesis of justice shall prevail upon these liars n cheaters and his cohorts the democrats, some republicans, Obama judges, MSM(msmafia) etc. This nest is huge and will unravel all those involved in the government. WHAT IS A.G.BARR DOING ABOUT THIS CRIME, HE’S RUNNING AROUND MAKING ARRESTS NOT RELATED TO THE MAIN CRIME SCENE OF UKRAIN/RUSSIA, WHICH HE TOTALLY IGNORES FOR AFTER THE 03NOV. The democrats/cohorts have induced so much fear by intimidation and, their gimmicks they shower on those who do not surrender to their Political Evil and bully tactics are threatened after 03nov is what they can expect if dems. win by hook or by crow. To this I inject a change in the Top Military Command and DOD, who should work at the pleasure of the President CIC of the Armed forces with the mandate of the people and not otherwise, and not some nitwit statements made by thieving democrats who do not practice what they preach but accuse PTrump for all their immoral and unethical behavior as reported daily by few honest news media. Democrats have the qualities and characteristics of criminals; they can sugar-coat their words to you, into believing all they will tell you, that they will do for you and never will, if elected.
Kissinger is part of the oligarchy (Bundaberg) who meet regularly and not for the good of the World. Oprah went to these meetings too along with Soros and Gates Bunch of scoundrels. Also thankful madeleine Albright is gone Another Obama hold over
Good! He should have removed from the very beginning the top four CIA, FBI, the DOJ, and the do nothing FCC.
Hence, “served a decade”, says it all. keep cleaning house Mr. President.
You can bet your a** that the new ones will be AMERICA FIRST people. I can’t believe that Madalyn not so bright, was on there. No wonder nothing ever changes they just recycle all the same morons over and over, moving them around the board, like chess pieces.
I wish Henry the K would just be GONE! How many are aware that the original movie “Dr Strangelove or how I love the bomb!” was modeled on Henry after the film makers met him while in the new england area searching for ideas? Honest to God true, was reported in an interview with producer many years ago!
Henry is first class SCARY! A jewish neo nazi!
I know the names of most of these. Kississenger and Albright should NEVER have been involved in anything. They are FOR SURE ONE WORLD ORDER workers. Cantor was a powerful Democrat. De Leon???? Don’t know. But if this is what they are counting on for advise for our military, we are in big trouble.
Why didn’t President Trump throw Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright off this panel on January 22, 2017. I would have. Kissinger is another America hating Tri Lateralist and Bilderberger member. Albright also hates a powerful sovereign America once stating after Reagan & Thatcher succeeded in bringing down the Soviet Union that she felt uncomfortable that the US was the only superpower left. As Bill Clinton’s Secretary of State, I’m sure she worked diligently with him to prop up China and bring them to superpower status.