Staffing turmoil continued at the White House with the exit of top Mideast adviser to the president and retired Col. Derek Harvey, who’d originally been hired by ex-National Security Adviser Ret. Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn, a senior administration official confirmed Thursday. “General McMaster greatly appreciates Derek Harvey’s service to his country as a career Army officer…and for his service on Capitol Hill and in the Trump administration,” NSC spokesman Michael Anton emailed The Daily Beast. The reshuffle reflects President Donald Trump’s frustration with the Afghanistan and Iran policies his staff has presented to him thus far. Another senior administration official explained Trump wanted to see more original ideas rather than continuing the Obama administration policy of containment with Iran (though Harvey was known as hawkish on Iran), and adding slightly more troops in Afghanistan in an open-ended mission to prop up the Afghan government and security forces. Spokesman Anton said the administration is working with Harvey “to identify positions in which his background and expertise can be best utilized.” There’s no word yet on who might replace Harvey. “I will be leaving the National Security Council today to take advantage of a new opportunity to continue serving...in an important capacity,” Harvey said in an email to friends Thursday, shared with The Daily Beast. “I look forward to shouldering greater responsibilities in support of the President.”
—Kim Dozier
