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About
Randall James 'Randy' Scheunemann (born January 12, 1960) is an American neoconservative political strategist and lobbyist with extensive experience in national security and foreign policy. He began his career in government service as a national security aide to Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott in the 1990s, later advising Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Iraq policy during the early 2000s and contributing to the push for the Iraq War. Scheunemann is a principal founder and board member of the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq, created by the Project for the New American Century (PNAC), an influential neoconservative think tank that advocated for regime change in Iraq and a more interventionist U.S. foreign policy. In 2008, he served as foreign policy advisor to presidential candidate John McCain, helping shape the campaign's stances on international issues. Throughout his career, Scheunemann has maintained deep ties to defense contractors and pro-Israel advocacy groups, including affiliation with the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA). As a lobbyist, he has represented the Republic of Georgia, advocating for U.S. support during the 2008 Russo-Georgian War, and worked with clients in the defense sector. His work has been criticized for promoting aggressive U.S. military policies and for potential conflicts of interest between his advisory roles and private lobbying activities, particularly regarding Iraq War advocacy and allegations of benefiting defense industry clients. Despite controversies, Scheunemann remains active in conservative foreign policy networks, continuing to influence debates on national security and international relations.