Danielle Pletka

Danielle Pletka (born June 12, 1963 in Melbourne, Australia) is the vice-president for Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute. Pletka researches topics related to the Middle East, South Asia, terrorism, and weapons proliferation, and is the AEI expert on Iraq. She was a senior professional staff member for Near East and South Asia with the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations from 1992 to 2002 &mdash; where she was a chief aide to Sen. Jesse Helms. Prior to working with the Senate committee she was a staff writer for Insight Magazine from 1987 to 1992 and an editorial assistant with the Los Angeles Times and Reuters, working in Jerusalem from 1984 to 1985.

Pletka ranks as one of the early neo-conservatives, and is also a close associate of Martin Indyk. Pletka has been at the forefront of the neocon war drumming against Iraq, and she has been a champion for Ahmad Chalabi.

Pletka is thought to be a likely candidate to serve as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs in the second George W. Bush administration.

Iran war hawk
In December 2011, Pletka admitted that Iran had no nuclear weapons program, but even so argued that sanctions were needed.

Professional History

 * Senior professional staff member for Near East and South Asia, U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, 1992-2002
 * Staff writer, Insight Magazine, 1987-1992
 * Editorial assistant, Los Angeles Times and Reuters, in Jerusalem, 1984-1985

Affiliations

 * Project for the New American Century – signatory to several PNAC statements
 * American Enterprise Institute
 * Committee on the Present Danger – Member
 * Coalition for Democracy in Iran – Supporter
 * Member, Task Force on the United Nations

Resources
For further information, see relevant Neocon Europe page Danielle Pletka

External articles

 * Justin Raimondo, "Triumph of the Neocons: Bush Cabinet shuffle deals the War Party a winning hand," Antiwar.com, November 17, 2004. The article discusses Pletka's possible appointment as Assistant Secretary of State.
 * Jim Lobe, "Likudnik Hawks Work to Undermine Annapolis," Inter Press Service (Antiwar.com), November 22, 2007.