Kerry Leaps to Defense of Hill as Iraq Ambassador

Republican objections only slow down important work

By Gabriel Winant, Newser User

Posted Mar 25, 2009 8:34 AM CDT

(Newser) – Anticipating GOP resistance, John Kerry goes to bat for Iraq ambassador nominee Chris Hill, arguing in a Politico piece that he should be confirmed immediately. Kerry's committee is considering the veteran diplomat's nomination today. Despite Hill’s lack of Middle East experience, he’s cut out for peacemaking in Iraq, the senator argues, and “has the perfect background to engage in this sort of complicated diplomatic effort.”

Some Republicans have objected to Hill’s nomination because the lack of Middle East experience; Sen. Sam Brownback, who has sparred with Hill repeatedly over human rights, promised to hold up his confirmation, the AP reports. In his op-ed, Kerry contends that Hill will be confirmed eventually and warns that "to use Senate procedures to delay his arrival to Baghdad at a critical time in this war would be a serious mistake."

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (3)]

In this Dec. 7, 2008 file photo, U.S. nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill speaks with reporters in Beijing. President Barack Obama has announced his intent to nominate Hill as Ambassador to Iraq. (AP Photo/ Elizabeth Dalziel, File)

In this Tuesday, March 17, 2009 picture, Ambassador Christopher Hill arrives for a meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., left, and the committee's ranking Republican Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., March 5, 2009, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)

Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., speaks with reporters during deliberations on the economic stimulus bill, Friday night, Feb. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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Gens. David Petraeus and Ray Odierno, the ground force commander in Iraq, have noted the importance of getting Hill to Baghdad quickly, as have all three post-war American ambassadors to Iraq. - Sen. John Kerry

I am going to be doing everything I can to hold up this nominee. - Sen. Sam Brownback

In 31 years with the State Department, as ambassador to countries from Macedonia and Poland to South Korea, Hill has built a career untangling seemingly intractable foreign policy challenges. - Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.)

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Kerry Leaps to Defense of Hill as Iraq Ambassador