Politico reports that “President Obama today will appoint Rep. John McHugh (R-NY) as Secretary of the Army, according to an administration official.” McHugh is one of the best Republicans in the House. As ranking member on the Armed Services Committee, he’s been a vocal advocate for the troops and their mission, warning the Obama White House against a precipitous withdrawal from Iraq, pushing back against the aggressive defense cuts by Secretary Gates, and embracing the elevation of General McChrystal to his new post as commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. In one shot, Obama has removed one of his most effective critics from the House, but he has also taken into his administration a hawk who can be expected to put principle before politics. It’s a blow to the Republican party, but a commendable choice by the president. For the neocon conspiracy theorists out there, also note that McHugh participated in the launch of FPI.
