Obama adviser tied to defense contractor

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15553.html

Sam Nunn, whose national security expertise drove his selection as a senior informal Pentagon adviser to Barack Obama’s transition team, sits on the board of a major defense contractor that sold critical infrastructure equipment to Iran.

Nunn, who has staked out a reputation as one of the world’s preeminent experts on nuclear non-proliferation, joined the board of General Electric in 1997, shortly after stepping down from his four terms representing Georgia in the Senate.

From 2000 to 2007, the company won 281 contracts from the Defense Department worth a total of $8.8 billion.

And, in 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission singled out the company’s nonmilitary business in Iran, inquiring in a letter why GE didn’t reveal sales to the country in its corporate filings.

“The issue of whether to conduct business in certain countries is complex,” GE wrote back in July 2006. “We must take into account not only the views of the U.S. government but all relevant stakeholders."

Nunn, now 70 and listed as chairman of “public responsibilities” for GE, was copied on the letter.

Neither he nor the Obama transition team responded when asked if his continued paid service on GE’s board was a conflict of interest with his informal role helping to guide Obama’s transition in the Defense Department.

Stephanie Cutter, a spokeswoman for Obama, pointed to a transition statement clarifying that Nunn, who was mentioned as a possible vice presidential pick for Obama, “will play an informal senior adviser role throughout the defense transition process.”

Cutter added in an e-mail to Politico that Nunn “has no formal role. He's an outside informal adviser, offering his advice as needed. He's not part of the agency review team.”

Seriously, what a ridiculous story! It's frickin' GE! They are involved with EVERYTHING! Singling out one division of their business is pretty flimsy, Politico.

Here's GE's businesses, from Wikipedia:

GE's divisions include GE Capital (including GE Commercial Finance and GE Money and GE Consumer Finance,^[16]), GE Technology Infrastructure (including GE Aviation,the former Smiths Aerospace and GE Healthcare), GE Energy Infrastructure, and NBC Universal, an entertainment company.

Through these businesses, GE participates in a wide variety of markets including the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity (eg. Nuclear,^[17] gas and solar), lighting, industrial automation, medical imaging equipment, motors, railway locomotives, aircraft jet engines, and aviation services. It was co-founded and is 80% owner (with Vivendi) of NBC Universal, the National Broadcasting Company. Through GE Commercial Finance, GE Consumer Finance, GE Equipment Services, and GE Insurance it offers a range of financial services as well. It has a presence in over 100 countries.