The NYTimes looks at who is going to be the next U.S. ambassador to Iraq, charged with running the single largest United States embassy.
Among the names being discussed within the administration are Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz; retired Gen. George A. Joulwan, a former NATO commander; Robert Blackwill, a former ambassador to India who now directs Iraq policy at the White House; and two veteran diplomats, Thomas R. Pickering and Frank G. Wisner.[ . . . ]
Few in the administration can think of a Democrat with whom he [President Bush] might feel comfortable, or who would be willing to take the job, unless it were Senator Zell Miller, a former Georgia governor who has endorsed Mr. Bush for re-election.Other names being discussed are former senators like Howard Baker, now ambassador to Japan; Bob Dole, the former Senate majority leader; Phil Gramm of Texas; or Warren Rudman of New Hampshire, a critic of the administration on security issues.
[ . . . ]
Two diplomats close to Mr. [Secretary of State Colin] Powell, Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage and John D. Negroponte, the ambassador to the United Nations, were described by some officials as highly qualified but not likely to get the nod because of their lack of closeness to President Bush.
This will be a big job, both politically and geopolitically, so two names to add would be those of Secretary Powell and Condoleezza Rice. Both would be good choices, a what would essentially be a demotion is unlikely.
My wife suggested Monsoor Ijaz of Crescent Financial Group. He has the familiarity with and contacts in the region to be effective, and Sandy Berger doesn’t like him. I do not know if he has earned the President’s trust, but we know that Rudman surely hasn’t.
Howard Baker is a good name, but there is Baker, also a chief of staff for President Reagan: James Baker, III. Former Secretary of State Alexander Haig would be a good choice, as well.
Speculation runs rampant, indeed.
