lily
01-05-2007, 02:30 AM
I have a feeling Chess isn't going to like this (http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/04/iraq.ambassador/index.html?eref=rss_topstories)
Sources: U.S. Iraq ambassador in line for U.N. job
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, is the
leading candidate to be the next American ambassador to the United Nations,
three Bush administration officials told CNN Thursday.
However, two of the sources indicated that President Bush was not yet
prepared to make an announcement of the appointment.
Ryan Crocker, a veteran Middle East diplomat who is the U.S. ambassador to
Pakistan, is expected to be nominated by Bush to replace Khalilzad in
Baghdad, two senior administration officials told CNN.
If nominated for the U.N. job, Khalilzad would replace John Bolton, whose
recess appointment to the post ended Thursday.
Despite nearly two years of trying, Republican leaders could not push his
permanent confirmation through the Senate.
Khalilzad, 55, a native of Afghanistan and a Sunni Muslim, has been the U.S.
ambassador to Iraq since June 2005.
He was previously U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.
Crocker, 57, has previously served as U.S. ambassador in three countries
bordering Iraq -- Lebanon, Kuwait and Syria.
In 2003, he was also a high-ranking official in the Coalition Provision
Authority, which governed Iraq after the U.S. invasion that toppled dictator
Saddam Hussein.
In March 2005, Bush nominated the outspoken Bolton, then an assistant
secretary of state, to be U.N. ambassador.
But amid opposition from most Democrats and a handful of Republicans, Senate
GOP leaders could not push through his confirmation.
So, in August 2005, when Congress was in recess, Bush used his
constitutional power to make recess appointments to put Bolton in the post
temporarily, without Senate approval, while continuing to fight for his
confirmation.
Bush resubmitted Bolton's nomination to the Senate in November, just two
days after Democrats won control in the midterm elections.
But when it became clear that he would not be confirmed, Bolton informed
Bush he had decided to leave the post when his recess appointment expired at
the end of the year.
Sources: U.S. Iraq ambassador in line for U.N. job
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, is the
leading candidate to be the next American ambassador to the United Nations,
three Bush administration officials told CNN Thursday.
However, two of the sources indicated that President Bush was not yet
prepared to make an announcement of the appointment.
Ryan Crocker, a veteran Middle East diplomat who is the U.S. ambassador to
Pakistan, is expected to be nominated by Bush to replace Khalilzad in
Baghdad, two senior administration officials told CNN.
If nominated for the U.N. job, Khalilzad would replace John Bolton, whose
recess appointment to the post ended Thursday.
Despite nearly two years of trying, Republican leaders could not push his
permanent confirmation through the Senate.
Khalilzad, 55, a native of Afghanistan and a Sunni Muslim, has been the U.S.
ambassador to Iraq since June 2005.
He was previously U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.
Crocker, 57, has previously served as U.S. ambassador in three countries
bordering Iraq -- Lebanon, Kuwait and Syria.
In 2003, he was also a high-ranking official in the Coalition Provision
Authority, which governed Iraq after the U.S. invasion that toppled dictator
Saddam Hussein.
In March 2005, Bush nominated the outspoken Bolton, then an assistant
secretary of state, to be U.N. ambassador.
But amid opposition from most Democrats and a handful of Republicans, Senate
GOP leaders could not push through his confirmation.
So, in August 2005, when Congress was in recess, Bush used his
constitutional power to make recess appointments to put Bolton in the post
temporarily, without Senate approval, while continuing to fight for his
confirmation.
Bush resubmitted Bolton's nomination to the Senate in November, just two
days after Democrats won control in the midterm elections.
But when it became clear that he would not be confirmed, Bolton informed
Bush he had decided to leave the post when his recess appointment expired at
the end of the year.