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Is the Military-Industrial Complex alive and well in the Obama administration? The LA Times reports a Top Raytheon lobbyist picked for deputy Defense post.
A day after President Obama issued tough new ethics rules for administration employees, a key lawmaker raised questions about his nomination of a lobbyist to the No. 2 position at the Pentagon.
William Lynn III, the top lobbyist for Raytheon Co., was chosen by Obama and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates for the position of deputy secretary of Defense.
The new ethics rules banned lobbyists from serving in the administration. But the executive order allowed waivers letting some former lobbyists to take government jobs if doing so is in the public interest…
If confirmed for his position, Lynn probably would have a large say in the future of the missile defense system. If the Obama administration decided to scale that program back dramatically, for instance, it would affect Raytheon.
Raytheon is one of top five U.S. defense contractors.
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Meanwhile at the
DefenseWar Department, the LA Times reports a Suspected U.S. missile attacks kill 18 in Pakistan. “In the first such strikes since the inauguration of President Barack Obama, suspected U.S. missile barrages today killed at least 18 people in the lawless tribal region near the Afghan border, Pakistani officials said.” Pakistan has repeatedly protested these attacks.
Four at Four continues with Marines leaving Iraq, Geithner says China manipulates its currency, and the Senate passes the Lilly Ledbetter fair pay act.