This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Dec. 14, 2009 - Former U.S. Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo., appears to still be in demand for his defense expertise.
Talent has been asked to serve on the congressionally mandated independent panel set up to assess the Department of Defense's Quadrennial Defense Review. Talent was tapped by U.S. Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, R-Ca., who is the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee. (The top Democrat: chairman Ike Skelton, D-Lexington.)
McKeon cited Talent's "wealth of experience in national security matters." Talent already has had an impact in the defense field with his status as vice-chairman of the Commission for the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism.
According to the announcement of his latest post:
"The Quadrennial Defense Review will assess the threats and challenges the nation faces and re-balance Department of Defense strategies, capabilities and forces to address today's conflicts and tomorrow's threats. The QDR is one of the principal means by which the tenets of the National Defense Strategy are translated into potentially new policies, capabilities and initiatives."
"The panel is required to provide the secretary of defense and Congress with an initial report in the spring of 2010 and a final report by July 15, 2010. In addition, the secretary of defense is required to respond to the panel's final report and its recommendations no later than August 15, 2010."
Said Talent in a statement: “Right now, America faces a greater spectrum of dangers than it did during the cold war, and every category of risk is demonstrably growing. I am honored to serve in this distinguished panel that will help shape the future of national security and defend against these threats.”
