We seem to have a Secretary of State (Clinton), National Security Adviser (Jones), and Secretary of Defense (Gates), and very likely their deputies (Donilon NSC, Steinberg State, and Danzig Defense). If all of that is true, the top dozen remaining nominees to watch are:
Senior Director for the Near East at the NSC
Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs
Undersecretary of Defense for Policy
Directors for the Near East at the NSC
Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs
“Special Mideast Peace coordinator” or “Middle East Special Envoy”
Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for ISA, Near East
Deputy Assistant Secretaries in State Department Near East Bureau
