Our next VP?
An observer of the political debates between the Republican and Democratic presidential hopefuls would have little trouble concluding that there is very little–if anything–that the two parties agree on. Those differences in policy and opinion are perhaps most pronounced when it comes to matters involving defense and foreign affairs–specifically the conduct of the war in Iraq and the overall prosecution of the global war on terror. It, therefore, may come as a surprise that Iraq and the other international military involvements that the U.S. finds itself embroiled in have become a cause for putting the Dems and the GOP into complete agreement on a critical issue. There is a rumor circulating that the front-runners in both political parties would be prepared to offer the vice-presidential slot on their ticket to retired U.S. Marine Corps General James L. Jones. This unanimity of opinion as to who is the ideal running mate in the current political climate is clearly an effort on the part of the presidential candidates and the party leadership to burnish the national security credentials of their campaigns. Jones is no less than a perfect candidate in these circumstances. A 40-year USMC veteran, he has served as an operational commander at every level in the U.S. military’s command structure and has on-the-ground experience in Northern Iraq and Turkey as a Colonel during Operation Provide Comfort in 1991. After a number of general officer billets, Jones rose to become the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1999-2003 and then went on to become the first-ever USMC General to be appointed head of the U.S. European Command at SHAPE and NATO from 2003-2007. Jones currently sits on the board of Boeing, one of the country’s largest defense firms, and he recently chaired an independent commission that reported to Congress on the readiness and capability of the Iraqi Security Forces. Other than his distinguished career, the recommendations Jones has put forward as the chair of the commission assessing the Iraqi Security Forces are the kind that resonate with the electorate. Jones and the commission have essentially called for reductions of the U.S. presence in Iraq, describing the current level and structure of deployment as one conveying the impression of “permanence.” The commission’s report also states that “we recommend that careful consideration of the size of our national footprint in Iraq be reconsidered with regard to its efficiency, necessity, and its cost. Significant reductions, consolidations, and realignments would appear to be possible and prudent.” Very few individuals could make these recommendations without being accused of “cutting and running” in Iraq. Even fewer have the credentials that are needed in order to formulate a plan for scaling back the U.S. military involvement that will be acceptable to all sides in the Iraq debate.
If the rumor mill is correct and if Jones becomes someone’s VP, the Marine is likely to have a profound impact on policy and presidential decision-making–a strong executive officer to the commander-in-chief. Any one of the candidates currently running would be lucky to have an individual such as Jones as their backup, but if he does end up as the next occupant of the vice presidential mansion at the Naval Observatory it will raise a few questions. Vice presidential running mates are usually selected in order to “balance” a ticket–either ideologically or as an electoral strategy to capture a particular geographic region of the country. Which demographic would Jones be the target audience for? The families of those with loved ones serving in Iraq, the conservative voters who are concerned about the U.S. pulling too much too quickly out of Iraq–or both? There have also been those who claim that Cheney exerted too much influence on national security policy making in this administration–to the point, some say, where the entire NSC was bypassed and the president’s decision-making process made dysfunctional. It is hard to believe that Jones–having been picked as a VP based solely on his military career–would carry less weight in a future administration than Cheney has in this one. It’s not that Jones would wield such influence unwisely, but those worried about the “encroachment” of the VP’s office on presidential turf or the strengthening of the powers of the executive branch over that of the Congress are not likely to see any relief in the next administration. Jones, given his record and reputation, is also not going to be someone that anyone will find easy excuses for throwing rocks at. Nancy Pelosi, or whoever is the House Speaker in the next Congress, may find that it was a lot easier to criticize a former SecDef turned VP like Cheney and his president than it will be to take on the nation’s most famous retired Marine.
