Ahead of new Iran nuclear talks, six powers debate updating package
Diplomats, stressing no date or location has yet been set, tentatively expect six world powers to hold a new round of nuclear talks with Iran in January. Part of the hold-up is jammed-up calendars—NATO...
View ArticleAppointment news
Updated: Several moves afoot among President Obama’s top European security advisors and close allies of National Security Advisor Tom Donilon. Together, sources suggested, they reflect Donilon’s...
View ArticleAppointments: Philip Gordon to White House, Jake Sullivan to OVP
As the Back Channel first reported, Assistant Secretary of State for Europe Philip Gordon will be taking over the former Dennis Ross “Central Region” portfolio on Obama’s National Security Staff, the...
View ArticleWhite House names Sherwood-Randall new defense/WMD coordinator
The White House last week named National Security Staff Senior Director for Europe Elizabeth “Liz” Sherwood-Randall as the new coordinator for defense and WMD, as the Back Channel first reported was in...
View ArticleFormer Obama nuclear advisor Samore: Iran might take deal after June polls
Expectations are low for an Iran nuclear deal before Iranian presidential elections in June, former White House nuclear advisor Gary Samore told the Brookings Institution Monday. After that, it’s...
View ArticleAppointment RUMINT
The White House is expected to notify Congress as soon as tonight that it is re-nominating Carlos Pascual to be Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, sources tell the Back Channel....
View ArticleObama AfPak advisor may help unwind the war from NATO
Douglas Lute, who has served for the past eight years as both the Bush and Obama White House Afpak ‘war czar,” looks set to get a plum assignment helping guide the wind-down of the US-led war in...
View ArticleState RUMINT: Malinowski for State DRL, Sewall for CT or PM
Updated: Two more Clinton administration alums may be tapped for senior State Department posts. The Obama administration may name Human Rights Watch’s Tom Malinowski to serve as Assistant Secretary of...
View ArticleKerry staff shifts as State appointments gather pace
One of John Kerry’s most experienced advisors has had to step back from his job as deputy chief of staff, but is staying on for now at the State Department, officials tell the Back Channel. William...
View ArticleTom Donilon to step down, Susan Rice to succeed as NSA
President Obama’s National Security Advisor Tom Donilon will step down, to be succeeded by UN envoy Susan Rice, the White House announced Wednesday. President Obama will nominate his former White House...
View ArticleThree days in March: New details on how US, Iran opened direct talks
Late last February, after six world powers and Iran wrapped up nuclear talks in Almaty, Kazakhstan (Feb.26-27), two members of the U.S. nuclear negotiating team secretly flew to Oman where they...
View ArticleSaudi Dep. DM meets Burns, Hagel on U.S. visit
Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Prince Salman bin Sultan, on his debut trip to Washington in the post, met with Deputy Secretary of State William Burns at the State Department on Wednesday. He will hold...
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