Peter Flory

Peter Cyril Wyche Flory was appointed as an assistant secretary of defense on August 2, 2005, by President George W. Bush in a recess appointment. Flory replaces J.D. Crouch, "who left more than a year ago to take another position." 

Nomination-Appointment
According to the Associated Press, "Flory was first nominated to the post on June 1, 2004, but the nomination was blocked by Michigan Sen. Carl Levin, the senior Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, in a dispute over release of intelligence-related documents that Levin sought from Douglas Feith, the undersecretary of defense for policy.

"Flory has been the principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs. His new assignment is as the assistant secretary of defense for international security policy. ...

"Flory was re-nominated by Bush in January 2005, at the start of the new Congress, but Levin continued to block it. The Senate Armed Services Committee reported the nomination to the full Senate last Thursday. A Pentagon spokesman, Bryan Whitman, said Levin blocked consideration of the nomination by the full Senate.

"'The Senate has had ample time to consider his nomination and hold an up or down vote,' Whitman said. 'This is an individual that is well qualified for this position, it's an important policy position. We're a nation at war. We're fully engaged in that effort.'"

Profile
"Peter Flory practiced law at Hughes Hubbard's Washington, D.C. office from 1993 to 1997, leaving to become Chief Investigative Counsel and Special Counsel to the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Prior to joining Hughes Hubbard, he served as Special Assistant to the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Paul D. Wolfowitz, from 1989 to 1992, and as an Associate Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism and Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Department of State from 1992 to 1993. In July 2001, Peter left the Senate to become Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs." --Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP.

Related SourceWatch Resources

 * Iran
 * nuclear weapons
 * Recess appointments made by President George W. Bush
 * war in Iran
 * weapons of mass destruction

Profiles

 * "Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998," Congressional Record, June 19, 1997 (Senate)(Page S5963-S5978). Posted on Federation of American Scientists website.
 * Personnel Announcement: Peter Flory, White House, May 27, 2004.
 * Alumni Profile: Peter Flory, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, accessed August 5, 2005.

Photos

 * Security Cooperation 2001, DSCA, Office of the Secretary of Defense. "Mr. Peter Flory, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Affairs."
 * Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz and his staff meet with Afghanistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Abdullah in the Pentagon on Nov. 12, 2003, DefenseLink.mil.
 * Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz hosts a Pentagon meeting with Iraqi Vice President Adil Abdul Mahki on April 22, 2005, DefenseLink.mil.

By Peter Flory

 * "Terrorism must continue to be a top priority," Insight on the News (FindArticles), May 23, 1994.

Articles & Commentary

 * "Bahrain, U.S. Hold Military Cooperation Talks," Middle East Newsline, March 7, 2002: "The U.S. delegation was headed by Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary Peter Flory, the official Bahraini news agency said. Flory is responsible for the Middle East at the Pentagon."
 * Aluf Benn, "U.S. wants Israel to show restraint even if attacked," Haaretz Daily, March 18, 2003: "In recent weeks, the American[s] have completed the establishment of warning, coordination and communication mechanisms, and Peter Flory was appointed to head the civilian coordination. Flory is a senior aide to the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, Peter Rodman."
 * Gerry J. Gilmore, "U.S. Wary Of Iran's Nuclear Program, House Panel Told," American Forces Press Service, June 25, 2004. Re Flory and John Bolton testimony.
 * "Bush Installs Pentagon Official," Associated Press (Boston Globe), August 2, 2005.
 * "Bush Fills Senior Pentagon Post," Agence France-Presse (DefenseNews.com), August 3, 2005.