Position: Secretary - Defense

The secretary is the civilian head of the Defense Department, the largest department in the federal government and is responsible for overseeing the United States military. The secretary makes and executes national security policy and is responsible for keeping the U.S. military in peak shape. The secretary, along with the president?s national security adviser, is the key adviser to the president on matters of national security.

Type of Appointment/Position: Presidential with Senate confirmation    

Nominations so far:

Nominee	Rating
Franklin C. (Chuck) Spinney
Sarah Sewall
James Webb
Max Cleland
Gary Hart
Ron Dellums
Sen. Carl Levin
Craig Eisendrath
Stephen Zunes
Rep. Jack Murtha

Recognize that as the most powerful country, the US must lead in international cooperation;

Instill and preserve a high level of compliance with all treaties such as the Geneva conventions;

Remember that the USA is a signatory of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

Will not manage Defense as either a jobs or a corporate welfare program;

Work to restrain the international arms trade and reduce arms and nuclear proliferation;

In keeping with our desire for a world of law, will work to make sure that our armed forces get no preferential treatment such as immunity from the International Criminal Court or the land mines ban;

Strictly limit privatization and outsourcing of military duties.