Polish-Born General Picked to Head Joint Chiefs

President Clinton on Wednesday nominated Army Gen. John M. Shalikashvili, the supreme allied commander in Europe, as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, replacing Gen. Colin L. Powell, who has held the job since 1989.

The choice, announced at a White House press conference, was something of a surprise. It breaks the tradition under which the chairman’s post is rotated among the various services--a custom that would have called for an Air Force general to get the job.

The 57-year-old Shalikashvili (pronounced Shah-lee-kash-VEE-lee)--who was born in Warsaw, the grandson of a czarist general, and immigrated to the United States at the age of 16--is known as a consummate professional with substantial skills both as a warrior and as a soldier-diplomat.

In a Rose Garden press conference, Clinton described him as “a soldier’s soldier” and a “proven warrior, a creative and flexible visionary who clearly understands the myriad of conflicts--ethnic, religious and political--gripping the world.”

Before assuming command of U.S. and allied forces in Europe, Shalikashvili helped revamp the North Atlantic Treaty Organization into a more flexible military and political force, negotiated with Eastern bloc forces on the dismantling of nuclear weapons and led allied efforts to protect Iraqi Kurds.

Most recently, he has overseen the drafting of military plans for possible air strikes by NATO forces against Bosnian Serbs, should they fail to end their siege of Sarajevo. Associates describe him as a consensus-builder who works well with other services and other governments.

But White House officials said that what ultimately convinced Clinton to nominate him was Shalikashvili’s “compelling personal story,” the Horatio Alger-like tale of an immigrant youth who rose through the ranks to become a four-star general.

Friends said that Shalikashvili--whose parents fled Eastern Europe in a cattle car, eventually ending up in Peoria, Ill.--taught himself English by watching John Wayne movies, entered the Army as a draftee and eventually became an artillery officer.

“Only in America,” Clinton told reporters, in reference to Shalikashvili’s storybook rise to high rank. He called the general “a shining symbol of what is best about the United States and best about our armed services.”

The choice of a new chairman was regarded as one of the most crucial that Clinton will make in the military arena this year.

With the Cold War ended, the armed services are at a turning point, having to reshape themselves to fit new missions and requirements. They face gnawing social issues, such as easing the ban on gays. And now there is the possibility of action in Bosnia.

Besides seeking Shalikashvili’s advice on military operations, Clinton will need his help in easing the strains between himself and the active duty armed forces, which appear to be distrustful of a commander in chief who avoided the draft during the Vietnam War.

Officials said that Shalikashvili’s nomination was pushed by Defense Secretary Les Aspin, who was present for the announcement Wednesday. But Powell also was a major influence. Shalikashvili was Powell’s deputy from 1991 through 1992.

Shalikashvili is expected to win easy confirmation in the Senate. He has been a favorite of both the Senate and House Armed Services committees.

Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, declined comment on the nomination. However, Senate strategists said that Nunn frequently takes that position on nominees who are scheduled to come before his panel.

Private defense experts quickly hailed the appointment as first-rate. “What this says is they’re looking for someone who’s current and top-notch,” said Don Snider, a military analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Robert W. Gaskin, vice president of Business Executives for National Security, a Washington-based think tank, called the appointment “a very good choice. He (Shalikashvili) is enormously loved and respected,” Gaskin said, “almost like (Gen.) Omar Bradley.”

Analysts said that Shalikashvili’s only major shortcoming is that he has had relatively little experience in Asia, where North Korea poses a threat. But defense experts said that, barring a new Korean war, problems in Europe and regional conflicts in Third World countries are likely to present the biggest challenges to this Administration.

Shalikashvili, popularly known as “Gen. Shali” because some soldiers have difficulty pronouncing his name, is considered likely to carry on in the mold of Powell, who is scheduled to retire Sept. 30.

But he also is expected to strike out on his own, pressing for widening the role of NATO and for expanded military contacts with Russia and other members of the former Warsaw Pact.

It was not immediately clear what Clinton would do to replace Shalikashvili as commander of allied forces in Europe if the allies decide to launch air strikes against Bosnia, which almost certainly would begin before Powell’s scheduled retirement date.

Shalikashvili’s appointment technically is for only two years, but it has become the custom for presidents to renew the incumbent’s term. Powell has served for almost four years.

The nomination of Shalikashvili Wednesday climaxed a yearlong contest among the nation’s top generals and admirals that saw more than the usual amount of political jockeying for the military’s No. 1 post.

Besides Shalikashvili, the list of candidates included Gen. Merrill A. McPeak, Air Force chief of staff; Marine Gen. Joseph P. Hoar, head of the U.S. Central Command; and Adm. David E. Jeremiah, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

Also on the list were Adm. Charles R. Larson, commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific; Gen. George L. (Lee) Butler, head of the Strategic Air Command; and Adm. Paul David Miller, commander of U.S. forces in the Atlantic.

Some, including Butler and Miller, reportedly were dropped from consideration because officials believed that they were “campaigning” for the job too openly. Shalikashvili, by contrast, hardly seemed to yearn for the post at all.

Aspin said that Clinton chose to limit his initial consideration to the 15 top officers who either serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff or command the 10 regional war-fighting commands around the globe.

Clinton also decided to make his decision without regard to the nominee’s branch of service. He established his chief criteria for the new chairman in the course of discussions with Aspin, Secretary of State Warren Christopher and National Security Adviser Anthony Lake and his deputy, Samuel (Sandy) Berger, aides said.

Aspin said that the group sought a candidate who was considered a “warrior” able to organize and lead a military operation from a single bombing raid to a multinational campaign like Desert Storm.

Second, the officer had to be someone able to serve “as a wise adviser on the use of force” in the murky and ambiguous post-Cold War international climate.

Third, he had to be suited to the difficult job of reducing the size and redefining the mission of the U.S. armed forces. In addition, he must have experience dealing with allied leaders and multilateral operations.

Last, he must be an effective advocate for the men and women in uniform. Shalikashvili’s rise from the ranks gave him experience at all levels of military life and his story will be an inspiration to all American service personnel, Aspin said.

On Aug. 4, Aspin sent Clinton a short list of candidates for the top job culled from the 15, which aides said included no more than three names, Shalikashvili’s among them.

President’s Pick as Nation’s Top Warrior

John Shalikashvili--grandson of a czarist general--rose through the ranks to become nominee for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

PROFILE

Age: 57

Nickname: Gen. Shali

Birthplace: Warsaw

Education: Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., 1958; master’s degree in international relations from George Washington University, 1970.

Career: He was drafted into the Army in 1958; decorated for combat as a U.S. military adviser to South Vietnam during the Vietnam War; rose through the ranks to become supreme allied commander of NATO last year.

Personal: The son of a Georgian army officer and grandson of a Czarist general. He is married with one son

POSITIONS ON KEY ISSUES

On Bosnia: “I hope that we all can approach that from the standpoint that we will be most successful if we never have to use force. But that is up to those factions engaged in that senseless struggle.”

On “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy for gays in the military: “I am very comfortable that the decision has been taken after very detailed and very concerned deliberations.”

Source: Times staff and wires, “Who’s Who in 1993”