Wayne Downing

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Person.png Wayne Downing   SourcewatchRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
(soldier)
Wayne A. Downing MG 1988.jpg
Born1940-05-10
Peoria, Illinois
Died2007-07-18 (Age 67)
Peoria, Illinois
Alma materUnited States Military Academy, Tulane University
Member ofCommittee for the Liberation of Iraq
Author of the Downing Plan, a blueprint for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Wayne Allan Downing was a four-star United States Army who retired in 1996, after a career that spanned from the Vietnam War to the invasion of Panama. From 1999 to 2000, he was a member of the National Counter Terrorism Commission (Bremer Commission), asked with examining the extent of the terrorist threat in the United States.

Coming out of retirement, General Downing joined the National Security Council staff in October, 2001 with a mandate to organize and staff the NSC's Office of Combating Terrorism and the Office of Homeland Security's Intelligence and Detection Directorate.

He was the author of the Downing Plan, a blueprint for the 2003 invasion of Iraq and a lobbyist for the CIA-backed Iraqi National Congress.

In 2008 it was revealed Downing had been recruited as one of over 75 retired military officers involved in the Pentagon military analyst program. Participants appeared on television and radio news shows as military analysts, and/or penned newspaper op/ed columns.

Early Career

Downing was born in Peoria, Illinois. He graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1962 and held a Master of Business Administration degree from Tulane University.[1]

His 34-year career in the U.S. Army took him from the Vietnam war to senior positions, ending as Commander in Chief of the U.S Special Operations Command, where he was responsible for all special operations forces in the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force. His career included commands in infantry, armored, airborne, special operation and joint units.

He commanded all U.S. special operations forces during the 1989 invasion of Panama and commanded a joint special operations task force during the first Gulf War in 1990. [2]

After retirement

After his retirement in 1996, he was on the board of directors at a private military company, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).[3]

Following the June 25, 1996 bombing of the Hobar Towers complex in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 US Air Force personnel and injured 372 others, Downing was assigned to lead a presidential task force to investigate the attack.

From 1999 to 2000, he was a member of the National Counter Terrorism Commission (Bremer Commission), created on behalf of the US Congress. The Commission was tasked with examining the extent of the terrorist threat in the United States, assessing American law, policy, and practical measures to counter and punish terrorism against American citizens, and suggesting corrective measures.

From October 10, 2001 to June 27, 2002, he served as the Chief Adviser to the President of the United States on Counter Terrorism, serving as Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Condoleezza Rice and at the same time heading the Counter Terrorism Office of the US National Security Council.[4]

While working in the White House, he "coordinated military, diplomatic, law enforcement, intelligence, financial and strategic information activities" aimed at combating terrorists and terrorist-supporting structures.

In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, Downing was also given responsibility to lead the Intelligence Directorate in the Office of Homeland Security, where he was responsible for coordinating the external and internal counter-terrorism activities of the US government. [5]

He was the author of the so-called "Downing Plan", according to which, to change the regime of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, it is not required to concentrate large military contingents in the region, and the objectives of the operation can be achieved with the help of several dozen mobile special forces units, which will be supported by the Iraqi opposition in the north and the south of the country. In addition to saving budgetary funds, the Downing Plan made it possible to complete the task in a relatively short period and without lengthy preparation.[6]

The Pentagon's military analyst program

After learning of his death, NBC News's Brian Williams wrote that "Downing was a brilliant warrior, a true patriot and a great friend. He was also a trusted adviser to NBC News."[7]

In April 2008 documents obtained by New York Times reporter David Barstow revealed that Downing had been recruited as one of over 75 retired military officers involved in the Pentagon military analyst program. Participants appeared on television and radio news shows as military analysts, and/or penned newspaper op/ed columns. The program was launched in early 2002 by then-Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Victoria Clarke. The idea was to recruit "key influentials" to help sell a wary public on "a possible Iraq invasion." [8]

Downing was also an "unpaid lobbyist and adviser to the Iraqi National Congress, an CIA-backed (and bankrolled) opposition group that stands to profit from regime change in Iraq." [9]

From February 2003 until his death, he headed the Center for Combating Terrorism at the United States Military Academy at West Point. In addition, Downing was a visiting professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, where he taught seminars on leadership and change management.

Military career


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References