Page 2 - aruba-today-20201124

A2 UP FRONT
Tuesday 24 November 2020

mate movement to take two secretaries of state, Rex
on this crisis as the presi- Tillerson and Mike Pompeo,
dent's climate envoy." offered weak resistance
Sullivan, who at 43 will be to the administration's at-
one of the youngest nation- tempts to gut the agency,
al security advisers in histo- which were thwarted only
ry, was a top aide to former by congressional interven-
Secretary of State Hillary tion.
Clinton before becoming Although the department
then-Vice President Biden's escaped massive pro-
national security adviser. posed cuts of more than
He said the president-elect 30% in its budget for three
had "taught me what it consecutive years, it has
takes to safeguard our na- seen a significant number
tional security at the high- of departures from its senior
est levels of our govern- and rising mid-level ranks,
ment." from which many diplo-
"Now, he has asked me to mats have opted to retire
serve as his national securi- or leave the foreign service
ty adviser," Sullivan said. "In given limited prospects for
service, I will do everything advancements under an
in my power to keep our administration that they
In this July 25, 2013, file photo Alejandro Mayorkas, President Obama's nominee to become dep-
uty secretary of the Homeland Security Department, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington before country safe." believe does not value
the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on his nomination. Mayorkas said he was hum- their expertise.
Associated Press bled by the nomination. Blinken served on the Na-
"When I was very young, tional Security Council dur-
Continued from Front ease, to terrorism, nuclear presidency — paid tribute the United States provided ing the Clinton administra-
The incoming president will proliferation, cyber threats, to her mother in accepting my family and me a place tion before becoming staff
also appoint Jake Sullivan and climate change." the nomination. of refuge," he said. "Now, I director for the Senate For-
to be his national security In making the announce- "My mother taught me to have been nominated to eign Relations Committee
adviser and Kerry to be his ments, Biden moved for- lead with the power of be the DHS Secretary and when Biden was chair of
climate change envoy. ward with plans to fill out kindness and compassion oversee the protection of the panel. In the early years
Those posts do not require his administration even as to make the world a better all Americans and those of the Obama administra-
Senate confirmation. Trump refuses to concede place," she said in a tweet. who flee persecution in tion, Blinken returned to the
The choices reflect Biden's defeat in the Nov. 3 elec- "I've carried that lesson with search of a better life for NSC and was then-Vice
emphasis on develop- tion, has pursued baseless me throughout my career themselves and their loved President Biden's national
ing a diverse team with legal challenges in several in Foreign Service — and, if ones." security adviser before he
Thomas-Greenfield, a Black key states and has worked confirmed, will do the same Blinken, 58, served as dep- moved to the State Depart-
woman, at the helm of the to stymie the transition pro- as Ambassador to the Unit- uty secretary of state and ment to serve as deputy to
U.S. Mission to the United cess. ed Nations." deputy national security Kerry.
Nations, and Mayorkas, a The stakes of a smooth tran- Perhaps the best known adviser during the Obama A graduate of Harvard Uni-
Cuban-American lawyer sition are especially high of the bunch is Kerry, who administration and has versity and Columbia Law
who will be the first Latino this year because Biden will made climate change one close ties with Biden. If School, Blinken has aligned
to lead Homeland Security. take office amid the worst of his top priorities while confirmed, he would be himself with numerous for-
Thomas-Greenfield previ- pandemic in more than a serving as Obama's secre- a leading force in the in- mer senior national security
ously served in high-level century, which will likely re- tary of state during which coming administration's officials who have called
State Department positions quire a full government re- he also negotiated the Iran bid to reframe the U.S. re- for a major reinvestment
and Mayorkas was a dep- sponse to contain. nuclear deal and the Paris lationship with the rest of in American diplomacy
uty Homeland Security sec- "If confirmed, this is a mis- climate accord. Trump the world after four years and renewed emphasis on
retary under Obama. sion I will take on with my withdrew from both agree- in which President Donald global engagement.
They "are experienced, cri- full heart," said Blinken who ments, which he said rep- Trump questioned longtime "Democracy is in retreat
sis-tested leaders who are would take over the na- resented a failure of Ameri- alliances. around the world, and un-
ready to hit the ground run- tion's oldest Cabinet agen- can diplomacy in a direct Blinken recently partici- fortunately it's also in re-
ning on day one," the tran- cy and be fourth in line for shot at Kerry who he called pated in a national secu- treat at home because of
sition said in a statement. the presidency. the worst secretary of state rity briefing with Biden and the president taking a two-
"These officials will start Thomas-Greenfield — a in U.S. history. Vice President-elect Ka- by-four to its institutions, its
working immediately to re- career diplomat for more "America will soon have a mala Harris and weighed values and its people every
build our institutions, renew than 30 years serving as government that treats the in publicly just last week on day," Blinken told The Asso-
and reimagine American ambassador to Liberia, di- climate crisis as the urgent notable foreign policy is- ciated Press in September.
leadership to keep Ameri- rector general of the for- national security threat it sues in Egypt and Ethiopia. "Our friends know that Joe
cans safe at home and eign service and assistant is," Kerry said. "I'm proud to Blinken will inherit a deeply Biden knows who they are.
abroad, and address the secretary of state for Afri- partner with the president- demoralized and depleted So do our adversaries. That
defining challenges of our can affairs before being elect, our allies, and the career workforce at the difference would be felt on
time — from infectious dis- pushed out early in Trump's young leaders of the cli- State Department. Trump's day one."q