DCI ANNOUNCES DUELFER TO SUCCEED KAY AS SPECIAL ADVISOR
Director of Central Intelligence George J. Tenet announced today that
Dr. David Kay will be stepping down as his Special Advisor for Strategy
regarding Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Programs. The DCI
also announced that Dr. Kay will be succeeded by Charles A. Duelfer,
who served as Deputy Executive Chairman of the UN Special Commission
on Iraq (UNSCOM) from 1993 until its termination in 2000 and is currently
a public policy scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for
Scholars.
Duelfer, 51, will be working closely with Major General Keith W. Dayton,
who commands the Iraq Survey Group (ISG).
In making the announcement, Tenet praised Dr. Kay for his "extraordinary
service under dangerous and difficult circumstances."
"David is a model private citizen who willingly lent his unique expertise
to his government in a time of need," Tenet said. "At a time when our
WMD hunt efforts were just beginning, David provided a critical strategic
framework that enabled the ISG to focus the hunt for information on
Saddam's WMD programs."
Dr. Kay will be returning to the private sector.
In accepting Dr. Kay's resignation and announcing Duelfer's appointment,
Tenet said, "Building on the framework that David has put in place,
I am very confident that Charlie and the ISG will continue to make progress
in the months ahead in determining the status of the former Iraqi regime's
WMD programs."
"Given his knowledge of Iraqi weapons programs and his understanding
of the nature and extent of Iraqi efforts to conceal these programs,
I can think of no one better suited to carry on this very important
work than Charlie Duelfer," the DCI said.
In accepting the position, Duelfer said, "I'm honored that Director
Tenet has asked me to tackle this challenging assignment. I'm approaching
it with an open mind and am absolutely committed to following the evidence
wherever it takes us."
In submitting his resignation, Dr Kay said: "It has been my honor and
privilege to work with a tremendous group of men and women in Iraq,
Qatar, and Washington. Despite arduous working conditions and an inhospitable
and often threatening environment, the ISG, led by General Dayton, has
performed its important mission with great skill and the utmost integrity.
While there are many unresolved issues, I am confident that the ISG
will do everything possible to answer remaining questions about the
former Iraqi regime's WMD efforts."
Duelfer, like his predecessor, will be based in Iraq and will be in
charge of directing the overall approach for the search for Iraq's weapons
of mass destruction. ISG will continue to provide direct support to
the Special Advisor.
Before joining UNSCOM in 1993, Duelfer was Deputy Assistant Secretary
of State for arms control and multilateral defense matters. From 1990
to 1992, he was in charge of defense trade matters as the Director of
the Center for Defense Trade and deputy to the Assistant Secretary of
State for Politico-Military Affairs. In this capacity, he had responsibility
for arms transfers, munitions licensing, and conventional arms control.
Duelfer has a B.A. from the University of Connecticut and a M.Sc. from
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
