 |
Douglas LuteAssistant to the President of the United States responsible for policy in Iraq and Afghanistan
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Military Career
- Ascendance through the Ranks
- Senior Leadership Roles
- "War Czar" Appointment
- Advocacy for a Draft and Other Controversies
- Personal Life
Early Life and Military Career
Douglas Lute was born in Michigan City, Indiana, in approximately 1953. In 1975, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and commissioned into the Army. He was assigned to the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Bindlach, West Germany, where he served as a company commander. He later earned a master's degree from Harvard University and taught in the Department of Social Sciences at West Point.
After attending the British Army Staff College, Lute returned to the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment as an operations officer at the battalion and regimental staff. In 1990-1991, he deployed with his regiment to Operation Desert Storm. He subsequently served on the staff of the Army Chief of Staff.
Ascendance through the Ranks
From 1992 to 1994, Lute commanded a battalion in the 7th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas. He then served in the Joint Chiefs of Staff's Strategic Planning Directorate and the Atlantic Council Fellows Program in Washington, D.C. From 1998 to 2000, he commanded the 2nd Cavalry Regiment at Fort Polk, Louisiana, as part of the 17th Air Assault Corps. He later served as executive assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Subsequently, he deployed to the 2nd Infantry Division in Schweinfurt, Germany, as the assistant division commander.
Senior Leadership Roles
In 2002, Lute commanded the Multinational Brigade East in Kosovo for six months. In January 2003, he became deputy director of operations for the U.S. European Command. From 2004 to 2006, he served as director of operations for U.S. Central Command, overseeing campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as operations in the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Horn of Africa. In September 2006, he assumed the role of director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"War Czar" Appointment
On May 15, 2007, President George W. Bush appointed Lieutenant General Lute as assistant to the President and deputy national security advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan policy, creating the so-called "war czar" position. The appointment came after an extensive search that reportedly saw several four-star generals decline the White House offer.
The "war czar" post was part of a National Security Council reorganization. Lute's role involved providing daily briefings to the President on Afghanistan and Iraq, coordinating among the Pentagon, State Department, and other agencies, and ensuring policy oversight. However, critics questioned whether the new White House aide would have substantial influence on Iraq policy or merely serve as a conduit between the President and other government and military officials. It was also suggested that the creation of the new position signaled President Bush and National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley's acknowledgment of their own ineffectiveness in addressing the two major conflict zones.
Lute's appointment required Senate approval since he remained on active duty as a lieutenant general. At his June 2007 confirmation hearing, Lute acknowledged that the troop surge in Iraq had not achieved its desired results and that broader political reforms were needed in the region. He had previously expressed skepticism about the Bush administration's approach to Iraq. The Senate voted 94-4 to confirm Lute's appointment on June 28, 2007.
Advocacy for a Draft and Other Controversies
In his first major statement as "war czar," Lute told National Public Radio on August 10, 2007, that the Afghanistan and Iraq campaigns were putting an unsustainable strain on the all-volunteer force and that reinstating a draft might be a potential solution. This proposal drew criticism from some quarters.
Personal Life
Douglas Lute is married to Jane Hall Lute, a United Nations official who serves as assistant secretary-general for peace operations. They have three daughters.
