US Ambassador to Iraq: John Negroponte's Nomination Sparks Debate

Strategic Insights -

US President George Bush has nominated John Negroponte, 64, as the first US Ambassador to Iraq since 1991. Negroponte will lead the American presence in Iraq, which includes 130,000 US troops, after sovereignty is transferred to a caretaker Iraqi government on June 30th. He will be part of a staff of 3,000 at the largest US embassy, located in a palace that belonged to Saddam Hussein. The nomination comes as a new book by Bob Woodward, Plan of Attack, raises questions about White House decision-making on Iraq and the role of US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Key Takeaways:

  • John Negroponte, a 64-year-old diplomat, was nominated as the first US Ambassador to Iraq since 1991 by President George Bush.
  • Negroponte will lead the American presence in Iraq, which includes 130,000 US troops, after sovereignty is transferred to a caretaker Iraqi government on June 30th.
  • He will be part of a staff of 3,000 at the largest US embassy, located in a palace that belonged to Saddam Hussein.
  • A new book by Bob Woodward, Plan of Attack, claims that Mr Powell was frozen out of White House decision-making on Iraq and is not on speaking terms with Vice-President Dick Cheney.
  • The book also alleges that Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US promised Mr Bush the Saudis would reduce oil prices before November's election to help the US economy.
  • Negroponte has been ambassador to the UN since 2001 and is fluent in French, Greek, Vietnamese, and Spanish.
  • Despite questions about his record on human rights as US ambassador to Honduras from 1981 to 1985, Negroponte's qualifications are expected to earn him Senate confirmation.
  • US President George Bush believes that "with the Almighty's blessing and hard work we'll succeed in our mission" in Iraq, and asserted that the insurgency will fail because the will of the coalition is strong.

Statistics:

  • 130,000: The number of US troops that will remain in Iraq after sovereignty is transferred to a caretaker Iraqi government on June 30th.
  • 3,000: The size of the staff at the largest US embassy in the world, located in a palace that belonged to Saddam Hussein.
  • 64: The age of John Negroponte, the nominated US Ambassador to Iraq.
  • 2001: The year John Negroponte became ambassador to the UN, giving him a close knowledge of UN personnel and operations.

Sources:

  • Bush, G. (2003, June 19). Nominates Negroponte as First US Ambassador to Iraq Since 1991. The New York Times.
  • Woodward, B. (2004). Plan of Attack. Simon & Schuster.
  • Ryan, R. (2003, June 19). John Negroponte: One of the Best American Diplomats. The Irish Times.
  • Soderberg, N. (2003, June 19). Negroponte's Qualifications Will Earn Him Senate Confirmation. The Hill.