Darfur activists shine spotlight on not-so-big names - Washington Post

Most "open letter" paid ads to government officials are directed to Congress or the president, sometimes to a regulatory agency or, on occasion, a Cabinet official, urging the passage or veto of legislation, a new regulation, or perhaps the saving of the blue-billed wombat.

But an ad on this page Wednesday was addressed to Erica, Tom, Jim, Stuart and Michèle. Who? There were pictures, but they didn't really help. Then the "letter" revealed last names: Erica Barks-Ruggles, Tom Donilon, Jim Steinberg, Stuart Levey and Michèle Flournoy.

They are key members of the National Security Council "deputies committee," little known outside the foreign policy world but critical to developing administration positions. They meet regularly to hash out the consensus policy and then serve it up to the bosses. Thursday's meeting was scheduled to take up Sudan policy.

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