Nicholas Burns, US undersecretary on Iran resigned suddenly today

[ChairmanAgnostic]

Source: reuters

whew. THis is strange. Did Cheneyites force him out?

Read more: http://in.reuters.com/article/topNews/idINIndia-31473220080118

---

War war, not jaw jaw?

[NightWatcher]

1. here ya go, link

http://in.reuters.com/article/topNews/idINIndia-31473220080118

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, the number three U.S. diplomat, is expected to step down for personal reasons in an announcement to be made on Friday, a U.S. official said.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who plans to make the announcement at 9:45 a.m. EST (1445 GMT), is expected to recommend U.S. ambassador to Russia William Burns as his replacement, said the official, who asked not to be named.

Nicholas Burns, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO and State Department spokesman, has been a key player in negotiating the U.S.-India civil nuclear deal that would give India access to U.S. nuclear fuel and equipment for the first time in three decades.

The U.S. official said Burns, whose is not expected to formally leave the department for a few months, is likely to keep a role for a few months after that in shepherding through the nuclear deal, which must clear several hurdles including final approval by the U.S. Congress before it can take effect.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

23. Either way, we're gonna get Burns.

[0007]

28. Playing the chimp card won't work anymore!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

31. Don't be so sure.

[0007]

34. LOL!!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. reuters - India link here:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, the number three U.S. diplomat, is expected to step down for personal reasons in an announcement to be made on Friday, a U.S. official said.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who plans to make the announcement at 9:45 a.m. EST (1445 GMT), is expected to recommend U.S. ambassador to Russia William Burns as his replacement, said the official, who asked not to be named.




http://in.reuters.com/article/topNews/idINIndia-31473220080118

[maddezmom]

4. you can still edit your OP to add the info

:hi:

[ChairmanAgnostic]

7. roger, wilco.

[zanne]

3. He probably wants to spend more time with his family. nt

[ursi]

13. true story! another one bites the dust!

[gratuitous]

5. Isn't it terrible?

We're so suspicious of our government that any resignation, sudden or long contemplated, is immediately cause for a search for other reasons. Not that it isn't called for in this instance, but I have to admit that my first thought was "dead woman or live boy"?

[zanne]

8. My first thought; "He knows we're going to invade Iran." nt

[yy4me]

11. That was my first thought also. He knows and does not agree,

therefore, he resigns to take himself as far away from the coming Iran horror as possible. I think I can guess where Darth is!

[mallard]

14. Re: he knows we're going to invade Iran ...

... and wants out 'cause it's his own head on a plate regarding the lies being used this time around.

Besides, he's way too nice for the neocons. I'm sure they'll come up with someone who can defend bad policy more forcefully.

[maddezmom]

6. State Department's #3 Nicholas Burns Resigns

State Department's #3 Nicholas Burns Resigns
WASHINGTON (AP) ― The State Department's third-highest diplomat, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, is resigning, a senior U.S. official said Friday.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice planned to appear at a ceremony with Burns at 9:45 a.m. Friday to announce his departure, as well as a possible placement, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity before the formal announcement was made.

Burns, 51, is a career foreign service officer who has served as the U.S. ambassador to NATO and to Greece, and as State Department spokesman. Most recently he led the Bush administration's diplomatic efforts to impose new U.N. sanctions on Iran and tried to negotiate a controversial nuclear deal with India.

The reason for his resignation was not immediately clear, but there has long been speculation that Burns might have aspirations for elected office in his home state of Massachusetts.

more:http://wcbstv.com/politics/nicholas.burns.resigns.2.632894.html

[MaineDem]

9. "...aspirations for elected office in his home state of Massachusetts. "

Now that's interesting.

[bemildred]

10. Don't let the door hit your butt. nt

[ChairmanAgnostic]

12. too oily. it would slide right by.

Say, when did Americans ever consider, and VOTE on the idea of
a) arming India with better nukes
b) invading Iran?

[NMDemDist2]

15. Friday news dump?? n/t

[ChairmanAgnostic]

16. where is cheney? other than

working on invasion plans?

[angstlessk]

17. they are replacing N. Burns with W. Burns? and condi is appearing with Burns??

how very confusing???

[DCKit]

18. Feh. When they replace W. Burns with Montgomery Burns, I'll worry. n/t

[Penndems]

19. I know Nick Burns. He's one of the GOOD guys

We worked together twice between 1993 and 1995, the first time in the Clinton White House. He wasn't just a colleague, he was a trusted friend.

Nick's integrity is absolutely beyond question, and that's not something too many people can say about Republicans these days. He's probably the only honest person on the Seventh Floor of the State Department.

If Nick says he's leaving to spend time with his family, that's exactly what he's doing. As shocked as it is to hear of his departure from State (I fully expected him to become Secretary one day, and I'm not being facetious), it's even more of a jolt to learn his daughters are old enough to start college! :scared:

[ChairmanAgnostic]

20. and what of

his being forced out?

[Penndems]

24. Number One, he really does want to spend time with his family, and

Number Two, I suspect he got sick and tired of being used as a persona of integrity for this Administration.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

27. a distinct possibility.

There were some with integrity.

Hell, Compared to Gonzo, Ashcroft was a paragon. The idea that he wanted to protect the constitution still amazes me. At least in comparison with the rest of the administration.

[lanlady]

21. Chicken Kiev

Wasn't Nick Burns the official who wrote the infamous "Chicken Kiev" speech for George H.W. Bush in August 91? One of the most disgraceful low points in his presidency, when Bush took the side of Gorbachev who wanted to stop the Ukrainians from declaring independence from the USSR. (Gorbachev was "overthrown" one week after Bush's speech).

[Penndems]

25. That doesn't sound like something Nick would do - he has more integrity than they, is a hell of a

lot smarter than they are, and a premiere expert on Russia and the New Independent States, to boot.

Nick was one of only a handful of people who worked in the Bush 41 NSC that former President Clinton asked to stay over in his Administration.

[radfringe]

22. resigning for personal reasons...ummm yeah...right

probably doesn't want to be around when bush-cheney invades

[Penndems]

26. Both of those reasons you cited would be valid justification for Nick's resignation.

n/t

[sofa king]

29. So would kicking him out so some Patrick Henry graduate can fill the job.

Gotta train the bible-thumping kids for the next time the Republicans can steal the White House.

[Penndems]

32. Not gonna be a right-wing fundie sliding into that job, which will probably produce a reaction

involving gnashing of teeth on their part, LOL.

William Burns is a career Foreign Service Officer with the rank of Ambassador. He's been around around for quite some time.

Nope, no Monica Goodlings in Seventh Floor principles' postions. They're probably in some lower-level enclave, like the Press Office.

[bananas]

30. Here's another article - he might continue working on Nukes for Mangoes

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x332901

Diplomat's Exodus Muddles Nuclear Deal (Nukes for Mangoes)
Source: Associated Press (via The Ledger)

By DESMOND BUTLER Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON

The departure of the State Department's No. 3 official adds uncertainty to a U.S. nuclear deal with India that is already in deep trouble.

The United States announced Friday that Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns would step down in March. Though Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said he would remain as the chief U.S. negotiator for the deal even after his departure, it was not immediately clear what his role will be.

It also was unclear whether his resignation as a full-time diplomat would set back dwindling hopes to complete the deal during the Bush administration, which ends in a year.

<snip>

But Squassoni also noted that the new arrangement could help Burns focus on India, which proponents hope is correct. In his current position, Burns is responsible for a host of time-consuming issues, including the negotiations on U.N. sanctions against Iran and on Kosovo's likely declaration of independence from Serbia, which the United States supports.

Read more: http://www.theledger.com/article/20080119/APW/801190600

[Penndems]

33. Interesting - I hadn't seen this article

Thank you for bringing it to my attention, bananas.

Nick would be good as the point man for India affairs. They're one of our staunchest allies, and need someone with a strong diplomatic background to keep simmering tensions between them and Pakistan to a minimum.