Stewart Baker

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In my view, there were two problems – a problem with the tools our agencies were able to use and a problem with the rules they were required to follow. What's worse, two years later, neither problem has been fixed. Which means that there is a very real risk we will fail again, and that more Americans will die at the hands of terrorists as a result of our failure. [6]

Baker advocated for better use of modern technology for tracking terrorists, including the use of electronic surveillance and better coordination with law enforcement officials. He also noted the importance of recognizing and protecting privacy and civil liberties. [6]

In 2004 to 2005, Baker chaired the drafting team for the report by the General Counsel of the Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction. [7] This report examined the intelligence around weapons of mass destruction prior to the invasion of Iraq and made specific recommendations for change to prevent future intelligence errors. [1] [7]

On July 13, 2005, Baker was appointed by President George W. Bush to be Assistant Secretary (acting as Under Secretary-equivalent) for Policy for the United States Department of Homeland Security. His nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 7, 2005. [1] News of his nomination was greeted with mixed reviews by privacy advocates and those concerned about his position on civil liberties; and the Department has been unable to elevate his position to an Under Secretary level. He negotiated several agreements between DHS and European governments concerning European privacy law and a U.S. legal requirement that airlines provide reservation data about US-bound passengers to the US government (Passenger name records or PNRs). One of these agreements had a "side letter" [8] that abrogated significant parts of the published agreement. [9]

In 2009, Baker returned to Steptoe & Johnson, where he currently practices law (and holds the record for returning to the firm more times than any other lawyer). [10] In 2013, he began hosting the Cyberlaw Podcast; [11] as of 2024, this podcast is hosted by Reason Magazine, to whose law blog Baker also contributes. [12]

Baker has collaborated to Project 2025; he is thanked for his contribution. [13]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Homeland Security - Home". www.dhs.gov. Archived from the original on 2006-10-10.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Stewart Baker CV" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2005-10-14. Retrieved 2006-09-17.
  3. Baker, Meg. "Meg Baker's Home Page". freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com.
  4. "Stewart Baker".
  5. 8 Baker, S. "Don't Worry Be Happy: Why Clipper Is Good For You," Wired, June, 1994.
  6. 1 2 "9-11 Commission Testimony" (PDF). 9-11commission.gov.
  7. 1 2 "Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction". Archived from the original on 2006-09-23.
  8. "side letter to US-EU PNR agreement" (PDF). www.statewatch.org.
  9. Hasbrouck, Edward. "The Practical Nomad blog: Time for Europeans to ask for your travel records". www.hasbrouck.org.
  10. "Steptoe & Johnson LLP: Stewart A. Baker - Partner". www.steptoe.com (in Russian). Retrieved 2017-12-04.
  11. "Steptoe & Johnson LLP". www.steptoe.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-05. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
  12. "Stewart Baker, Author at Reason.com". Reason . Archived from the original on 2024-05-17.
  13. Dans, Paul; Groves, Steven, eds. (2023). Mandate for leadership: the conservative promise 2025 (PDF). Washington, DC: The Heritage Foundation. ISBN   978-0-89195-174-2.
Stewart Abercrombie Baker
Stewart Baker.jpg
1st Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Policy (acting as Under Secretary-equivalent)
In office
July 13, 2005 January 20, 2009