Subject: RE: Dennis Ross
From: "Denis McDonough" <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked], "James B. Steinberg" <[email-masked]>, "Mark Lippert" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:57:33 -0500

It is pretty forward leaning, so I am actually asking him to withdraw it. 

D

From: [email-masked] [mailto:[email-masked]] 
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 1:51 PM
To: Denis McDonough; James B. Steinberg; Mark Lippert
Subject: Re: Dennis Ross

Do you know content? If inconsistent with BO positions we should ask for a different byline. He has plenty of other things he can put behind his name. If it sounds like what you would say if asked, let it go.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

________________________________

From: "Denis McDonough" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2008 08:39:00 -0500
To: James B. Steinberg<[email-masked]>; John Podesta<[email-masked]>; Mark Lippert<[email-masked]>
Subject: Dennis Ross

Fellas – 

Dennis was asked to write an article about transition for Sunday’s Outlook, and he did it.  He says that he argues that this transition cannot be “business as usual” and there cannot be a lull in efforts to stop Iran’s nuclear program. 

He is identified in the byline as someone who gives advice to BO.  

I would have preferred Dennis not write this or at least not be publicly identified as one of our advisers, but we are where we are.  If you all have serious heartburn, please let me know and I will go back at Dennis. 

Thanks, 
DM