WASHINGTON--The president has chosen a former senator and the head of Oklahoma¡¦s premium university to be co-chairman of an intelligence advisory board.President Barack Obama announced the appointment yesterday of David L. Boren to the position.
Mr. Boren, a Democrat, who previously served in the U.S. Senate and is now president of the University of Oklahoma, will serve alongside former U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel (Rep., Neb.) as co-chairmen of the President¡¦s Intelligence Advisory Board.
¡§David is a longtime champion of intelligence reform,¡¨ the president said.
¡§I will be looking for the board to provide me with objective, independent and non-partisan counsel as we work to strengthen our intelligence community and our national security.¡¨
The president cited Mr. Boren¡¦s previous service as the longest-serving chairman of the Senate intelligence committee.
He also noted that then Sen. Boren had sponsored legislation that created an independent inspector general at the Central Intelligence Agency and reformed oversight of covert actions.
Mr. Boren said at yesterday¡¦s news conference with the president that the appointments to the intelligence advisory board sent intelligence agencies a message that says he expects them to cooperate with the board and provide it with the information needed.
¡§That was very good,¡¨ Mr. Boren said. ¡§That really empowered us.¡¨
During his first discussions with the White House about taking the job, Mr. Boren said he made it clear that he was not interested in preparing reports that would end up gathering dust on a shelf.
He said President Obama assured him that the board¡¦s work would not suffer that fate.
In addition to acting as an auditor on intelligence activities, Mr. Boren said, the board, which dates to the Eisenhower administration, also can be used by presidents as a sounding board.
After endorsing Mr. Obama during last year¡¦s presidential race, Mr. Boren was an advisor to his campaign on national security and foreign policy.
At that time, he cited Mr. Obama¡¦s ¡§good judgment¡¨ in warning against the Iraq war and advised him on the importance of building partnerships and sharing burdens with other countries.
Mr. Boren said President George W. Bush¡¦s administration had depended too much on the military in foreign affairs, describing that approach as a huge mistake.
¡§This part-time advisory role, which is uncompensated, will in no way alter my plans to remain as president of the University of Oklahoma,¡¨ Mr. Boren said.
¡§I see this appointment as a chance to perform my duty as a citizen to serve our country.¡¨
David L. Boren
„P 1994-Present
President of University of Oklahoma
„P 1974-1994
U.S. Senator
„P 1975-1979
Governor of Oklahoma
