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June 6, 2013

Obama Unveils Susan Rice, Samantha Power for New Foreign Policy Posts 
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President Obama has formally unveiled his latest picks for top foreign
policy posts, the new National Security Adviser, Susan Rice, and her
would-be replacement as U.N. ambassador, Samantha Power. Appearing with
Obama at the White House, Rice and Power each voiced excitement to take
on their new roles.

Susan Rice: "Mr. President, thank you so much. I am deeply honored and
humbled to serve our country as your national security adviser. I'm
proud to have worked so closely with you for more than six years. And
I'm deeply grateful for your enduring confidence in me."

Samantha Power: "As the most powerful and inspiring country on this
Earth, we have a critical role to play in insisting that the institution
meet the necessities of our time. It can do so only with American
leadership. It would be an incomparable privilege to earn the support of
the Senate and to play a role in this essential effort, one on which our
common security and common humanity depend."

Power served as Obama's senior foreign policy adviser during his first
run for the White House before she was forced to resign for calling
Hillary Clinton "a monster." She could face a tough confirmation process
from Republicans opposed to her foreign policy views. Right-wing
opponents have begun circulating a 2003 article where she called for "a
historical reckoning with crimes committed, sponsored, or permitted by
the United States." Power added: "Instituting a doctrine of the mea
culpa would enhance our credibility by showing that American
decision-makers do not endorse the sins of their predecessors." On the
other side of the spectrum, she has faced charges from progressive
critics over the years of selectively ignoring U.S.-backed atrocities
while supporting humanitarian intervention abroad. (Related: see our
2008 interview with Samantha Power as well has her debate with
investigative reporter Jeremy Scahill about Kosovo, Iraq sanctions and
interventionism. )

 

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