State Department Picks New Spokesperson After WikiLeaks Stir
Victoria Nuland, a national security adviser for former Vice President Dick Cheney from 2003 to 2005 and the U.S. ambassador to NATO from 2005 to 2008, was named the State Department's new spokesperson. (Massoud Hossaini/AFP/Getty Images) The State Department chose career diplomat Victoria Nuland as its new spokesperson, taking over a vacancy left by former spokesman P.J. Crowley, the department announced on Thursday evening.
A Russia specialist, Nuland was a national security adviser for former Vice President Dick Cheney from 2003 to 2005 and the U.S. ambassador to NATO from 2005 to 2008.
Nuland is stepping into a job that was vacant since March, when Crowley resigned after reports that he had called the Pentagons treatment of WikiLeaks suspect Bradley Manning ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid.
Manning is accused of leaking secret diplomatic and military documents to the WikiLeaks website and is being held in a military prison in Kansas.
Crowley, a retired Air Force colonel who often took liberties with his speech from the State Department podium, took responsibility for the remarks made to a small group in Massachusetts and subsequently resigned on March 13.
In his resignation letter, Crowley said that while the unauthorized disclosure of classified information is a serious crime under U.S. law, [] the exercise of power in todays challenging times and relentless media environment must be prudent and consistent with our laws and values.
The White House has been criticized for Mannings treatment, despite President Barack Obama saying the Pentagon has assured that the 23-year-old soldier is not being mistreated as he awaits trial.
United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan E. Mndez expressed concern last month over the way Manning is being treated while he was! being held at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.
"Since December 2010, I have been engaging the U.S. Government on visiting Mr. Manning, at the invitation of his Counsel, to determine his current condition, Mndez said in April. Unfortunately, the U.S. Government has not been receptive to a confidential meeting with Mr. Manning.
A Russia specialist, Nuland was a national security adviser for former Vice President Dick Cheney from 2003 to 2005 and the U.S. ambassador to NATO from 2005 to 2008.
Nuland is stepping into a job that was vacant since March, when Crowley resigned after reports that he had called the Pentagons treatment of WikiLeaks suspect Bradley Manning ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid.
Manning is accused of leaking secret diplomatic and military documents to the WikiLeaks website and is being held in a military prison in Kansas.
Crowley, a retired Air Force colonel who often took liberties with his speech from the State Department podium, took responsibility for the remarks made to a small group in Massachusetts and subsequently resigned on March 13.
In his resignation letter, Crowley said that while the unauthorized disclosure of classified information is a serious crime under U.S. law, [] the exercise of power in todays challenging times and relentless media environment must be prudent and consistent with our laws and values.
The White House has been criticized for Mannings treatment, despite President Barack Obama saying the Pentagon has assured that the 23-year-old soldier is not being mistreated as he awaits trial.
United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan E. Mndez expressed concern last month over the way Manning is being treated while he was! being held at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.
"Since December 2010, I have been engaging the U.S. Government on visiting Mr. Manning, at the invitation of his Counsel, to determine his current condition, Mndez said in April. Unfortunately, the U.S. Government has not been receptive to a confidential meeting with Mr. Manning.
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Nuland will take over from Mark Toner, who is the temporary spokesman. Toner will become the deputy spokesperson.
- WikiLeaks Suspect to be Moved From Quantico Prison
Nuland will take over from Mark Toner, who is the temporary spokesman. Toner will become the deputy spokesperson.
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