Obama's Man for Sensitive Issues

The White House announced Saturday that President Obama’s long-time friend and foreign policy expert Philip Gordon will assume an important administration post: As of March 11, he will coordinate U.S. policy on the Middle East, North Africa and the Persian Gulf region.

The 51-year-old has advised Obama on foreign affairs since his first campaign in 2008. A fellow at the famous Brookings Institution think tank, Gordon had previously served President Bill Clinton as Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council. The trained economist and Europe area expert is considered, among other things, to be an expert on global anti-terrorism. He has published criticisms of George W. Bush’s war on terror in numerous journals, saying that Bush’s war actually put the United States and its allies in greater danger.

Since 2009, the dark-haired diplomat had been leading a private life while on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s staff. His confirmation hearing was marked by questions concerning his opinions on genocide against the Armenian people the raising of which, he said, would result in unnecessary tensions with Turkey.

Among other destinations, Philips traveled to Beijing and Shanghai attempting to get China’s support for sanctions against Iran and offered to assist Iran in developing peaceful uses for nuclear energy provided Iran stopped enriching uranium for military purposes. The Beijing government, however, stopped short of participating in the U.S. sanction policy.

This year, Gordon proved to be Obama’s go-to man for sensitive issues. Obama sent him to London in early February to inform Prime Minister David Cameron of Obama’s wish that Great Britain remain a part of the European Union and that the U.S. president didn’t think highly of Britain’s decision to have a referendum on remaining in the EU. Gordon’s appointment comes at a critical point in time: Obama plans to travel to Israel and Jordan two weeks from now.