Armitage PNAC signatory joins one of world's biggest oilco's as Director

Richard Armitage, former Deputy Secretary of State t Colin Powell (March 2001 - Nov 2004 resigned one day after Powell) and signatory of the Project for the New American Century, has been under scrutiny in connection with the trial of ex-vice presidential aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby, over the leak of a CIA operative's name to the press. He is said to be the first person to discuss the identity of CIA official Valerie Plame with reporters, and is expected to testify in the perjury trial. Bob Woodward is "alleged" to have been the journalist he talked to.

A court filing suggests Libby's team may try to pin blame on the State Department for the leak of Plame's identity to the public after her husband. U.S. Ambassador Joseph Wilson, criticized the Bush administration's Iraq policy.

Powell and Armitage resisted the administration's push to invade Iraq more than other senior officials and left their posts after President Bush's 2004 reelection.

Armitage ran an international consulting company before joining Powell in the Bush administration in 2001.

His name popped up on Friday 30th March 2006,in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in which ConocoPhillips said its board was expanded from 15 to 18 members as a result of its $33.9 billion acquisition of natural gas producer Burlington Resources.

In addition to Armitage, (Ex Navy, Viet Vet, international consultant and powerlifter) who becomes a Class I director effective immediately, the company said its board also elected Burlington's former President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Bobby Shackouls to the board, as well as William Wade, Jr., who was on the board of Burlington (and is retired Chairman of Atlantic Richfield Oil Co).

ConocoPhillips earlier on Friday said it had closed the acquisition. Burlington shareholders will receive $46.50 in cash and 0.7214 shares of ConocoPhillips common stock for each Burlington share. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, ConocoPhillips operates in more than 40 countries. The company has approximately 35,600 employees worldwide and assets of $107 billion.

Full list of ConocoPhillips Board with biogs here including J. Stapleton Roy Managing Director of Kissinger Associates, Inc. (position previously held by Paul Bremer of Baghdad)

Pic Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov with Armitage (on right) .Copyright US Gubment