Atlantic Council

General James L. Jones, chairman of the Atlantic Council since June 2007, will be leaving his post here to serve as Barack Obama's National Security Advisor.  Last year, in a well-publicized presentation, Jones reported to Congress on the findings of the Atlantic Council's study Saving Afghanistan: An Appeal and Plan for Urgent Action, saying, "Make no mistake, the international community is not winning in Afghanistan."  The Council hosted a farewell dinner for Jones tonight.

General James L. Jones and Frederick Kempe

Atlantic Council president and CEO Frederick Kempe praised General Jones, offering the following remarks:

I have had the luck to know General Jones in many incarnations.  While I was at  the Wall Street Journal, I traveled with him to Afghanistan, taking advantage of the long trip for one of the lengthiest interviews I think he was ever given.  Second, we named him as the first recipient of our Distinguished Military Leadership Award in 2007, after which we were able to persuade him to serve as chairman of our board.

We at the Atlantic Council of course could not imagine a better choice at a more crucial moment.  But some of us have discovered that this conviction was shared by others as well.  In the course of General Jones’ security clearance, I was phoned by an FBI agent who asked the usual questions in such procedures.  He asked as well about the nature of the Atlantic Council and our work. At the end, he asked me a general question about what I thought about General Jones.  I spoke of course of his remarkable character and integrity and humanity.  To which the agent responded, "Yeah, I agree completely!"

The board of the Atlantic Council also agreed with the FBI agent.  So let me close by reading a resolution of the Executive Committee of the Board of the Atlantic Council of the United States:

The Executive Committee congratulates our Chairman, Gen. Jones, on his selection as National Security Advisor.  But in a broader perspective it is President-elect Obama who is to be congratulated for the wisdom of his choice and the country, who is to be thankful for its good fortune in Gen. Jones agreeing to take on this new responsibility.  Our only regret is that the Council will no longer have the benefit of Gen. Jones' extraordinary leadership and dedication in his work as chairman.  We hope, however, that if the Council can be of assistance, he will call on us.  We also invite him to accept the position of Honorary Director, as a mark of our appreciation for his service – and our hope that he will continue to regard the Council as part of his "home."

General James L. Jones addresses audience

Related Highlights:

• Atlantic Council Chairman Named National Security Advisor
• Jones Appointed Middle East Envoy
• 2007 Leadership Awards: Greenspan, Schwarzman, and Jones
• Atlantic Council Hosts SACEUR James L. Jones

Related Posts:

• Jones Continues to Draw Praise – James Joyner
• Jim Jones the Next Brent Scowcroft? – James Joyner
• General James Jones: Seasoned Leader, Strategic Thinker, and Statesman – The Editors

Atlantic Council photos by Daniel Rosenbaum.