Counterterrorism Blog

While the selection of Cabinet Secretaries in the Obama Administration draws the most press attention, the CT community is also concerned about those sub-Secretarial appointments who drive policy formulation, international negotiations, and execution of Presidential and Secretarial decisions - the Under Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries who "work in the weeds" on a daily basis. In the counter-terrorist financing area, the most important position is that of the Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the Treasury Department, created in 2004. Stuart Levey has held that post and has earned the respect of many in the community as the single most effective and important civilian official in the effort to detect, halt, and prevent terrorist financing. As Robin Wright reported in the New York Times last October, Stuart has been the key U.S. government official pursuing financial sanctions against Iran to raise the cost of its terrorist- and proliferation-financing activities. And I've written often, most recently in December, on the joint Treasury-DoD "threat finance cell" initiative, which has been one of the signature accomplishments of the past four years, thanks in large measure to Stuart's vision, determination, and cooperative spirit.

A number of us have been holding our breath recently, hoping that President-elect Obama would, at the least, keep Stuart on board until a suitable replacement for him would be found and confirmed. So I'm encouraged to read this morning that Stuart has been asked to remain on board as acting Treasury Secretary until the Administration's nominee for that position is confirmed. This assures me of the President-elect's recognition of the importance of the office, his appreciation of Stuart's achievements, and his confidence in Stuart's considerable executive abilities.

The Iranians are not happy.