ITAR: Is there a possibility of export reform with Obama?

President-elect Barack Obama today named U.S.Senator Hillary R. Clinton the Secretary of State-designate as a part of a new national security team to take charge of January 20, 2009.

The one-time Democratic presidential primary rivals, both Obama and Clinton have histories of being favorable to commercial space interests with regard to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) export reform.

Jeff Foust has both a timely and excellent review of the potential of ITAR reform challenges in today's Space Review examining the potential of an Obama Administration to effect this important change.

It is also important to calibrate the impact of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton may have on an ITAR export reform debate as she will recall the rancor between State and Commerce and the fight in Congress during the Bill Clinton Administration.