b'P
JF
Event:
RichardArmitage
TypeofEvent:InterviewDate:January12,2004SpecialAccessIssues:Treatas
S~eltf!'f-HOFOltf.
Preparedby:ScottAllanReviewedby:PhilipZelikowTeamNumbers:FrontOfficeandTeamThree(CounterterrorismPolicy)Location:MainStateParticipants-Commission:PhilipZelikowandScottAllanParticipants-State:RichardArmitage,KarlHoffman,
Will
TaftandJamiBorek
Background:
RichardArmitagebecameDeputySecretaryofStateonMarch26,200I.Armitageconfirmedthatpriortohisconfirmation,hewasamemberofthe
"Vulcans",
agroupofinfluentialforeignpolicyadvisorsassistingPresidentGeorgeW.Bushduringhiscampaign.Armitagenotedthathewasnotpartofthetransitionteam.
[UJ
Inthemid1980's,ArmitageworkedanumberofcounterterrorismissueswhichincludedtheestablishmentoftheCIA'sCounterterrorismCenter.DuringthefirstBushadministration,hewasnotinvolvedinanysubstantivecounterterrorismpolicywork;however,duringtheClintonadministrationhewasamemberoftheNationalDefensePanelwhichaddressedtheconceptofhomelandsecurity.WhenhewasaskedtobeDeputySecretaryhehadaread-inwithState'sofficeoftheCoordinatorforCounterterrorismandwasveryimpressedwiththeprogressthathadtakenplacefrom1989to200I.Armitagewasparticularlyimpressedwiththeincreasesinmanpowerandthehighdegreeofawarenessoftheterroristproblem.DuringtheinitialdaysoftheBushadministration(earlyJanuary-lateFebruary2001)hedidnotrecallbeingbriefedbyRichardClarke.HealsonotedthathereceivednoCIAbriefingsoncounterterrorismefforts.Armitagequalifiedthisbyindicatingthatelementsofthe
usa
arereluctanttobriefunconfirmed
deputies.'[U]
ArmitagecametothejobwithaninterestinSouthAsiabecauseofpriorworkwithPakistanduringtheSovietoccupationofAfghanistan.soonbecameapparentthatthe
US
wouldnotbeabletohaveapositiverelationshipwiththePakistanisuntiltheVBLproblemwassolved.alsobecameclearthatthe
usa
couldnotaddressAfghanissuesuntilUBLwasoutofthecountry.
Early2001Deputies'CommitteeMeetings:
9/11ClassifiedInformation
Inasubsequentcall,JamiBoreksaidthatwhiletransitionteammembersaregiven
classifiedbriefings,thisisnotthecaseforunconfirmednominees.[UJ
Secreul<l"1'
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