Farewell to Claudia Rosett
There would never be a good time to say farewell to a magnificent patriot and courageous editorialist, essayist and investigative reporter like my friend, Claudia Rosett. But her loss at this particular moment in the arc of her profession is nothing short of devastating.
For decades, Claudia exemplified the practice of journalism that served as our founders intended – namely, as an independent, honest check on the three branches of government, fearlessly speaking truth to power. She did the same with tyrants abroad.
Claudia Rosett was an exemplar of authentic reporting. More to the point, she practiced it the way we desperately require at present. Those who believe that it amounts to nothing more than reprinting official press releases and collaborating in the suppression of dissenting views will have a special place in Hell, as Claudia surely has one in Heaven.
One of the proudest moments in the history of the Center for Security Policy was the occasion of the conferring in June 2005 of its “Mightier Pen Award” on Claudia Rosett for her brilliant expose of Saddam Hussein’s oil-for-food scam and countless essays in support of human rights and liberty. It was one of the highlights of two decades of collaborations with a Great American, inspirational freedom-fighter and cherished friend.
Rest in well-deserved peace, Claudia.
Mr. Gaffney is the host of Secure Freedom Radio, a nationally-syndicated radio program heard weeknights throughout the country. He is an associate author of highly acclaimed Shariah: The Threat to America and the publisher of over a dozen other books and monographs from the Center for Security Policy Press.
In April 1987, Mr. Gaffney was nominated by President Reagan to become the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy, the senior position in the Defense Department with responsibility for policies involving U.S.-USSR relations, nuclear forces, arms control, missile defense policy and U.S.-European defense ties. He acted in that capacity for seven months during which time, he was the Chairman of the prestigious High Level Group, NATO’s senior politico-military committee. He also represented the Secretary of Defense in key U.S.-Soviet negotiations and ministerial meetings.
From August 1983 until November 1987, Mr. Gaffney was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Forces and Arms Control Policy under Assistant Secretary Richard Perle.
From February 1981 to August 1983, Mr. Gaffney was a Professional Staff Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, chaired by the late Senator John Tower (R-Texas). And, in the latter 1970’s, Mr. Gaffney served as an aide to the late Senator Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson (D-Washington) in the areas of defense and foreign policy.
Mr. Gaffney holds a Master of Arts degree in International Studies from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.
Mr. Gaffney’s leadership has been recognized by numerous organizations including: the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award (1987), the U.S. Business and Industry Council’s Defender of the National Interest Award (1994), the Navy League of the United States’ Alfred Thayer Mahan Literary Achievement Award (1999), and the Zionist Organization of America’s “Louis Brandeis Award” (2003), the Western Conservative Summit’s Stephen H. Long Award (2015), the Council for National Policy’s George Washington Military Leadership Award (2016) and the IMPACT Award from Ginni Thomas and United in Purpose (2017).
Mr. Gaffney was born in 1953 and resides in the Washington, D.C. area.
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