FINALLY! and screw Brownback, McCain, et al. Senate confirms Hill as Iraq ambassador

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/senate-confirms-hill-as-iraq-ambassador-2009-04-21.html

Senate confirms Hill as Iraq ambassador
By J. Taylor Rushing
Posted: 04/21/09 06:02 PM


The Senate on Tuesday easily confirmed the nomination of Christopher Hill as the next U.S. ambassador to Iraq, brushing aside strong opposition from 2008 GOP presidential nominee John McCain.

Senators voted 73-23 to confirm Hill, a day after approval of a key process vote, by a similar margin, had made it clear that Hill had widespread support in the Senate. Nevertheless, Republicans Sam Brownback of Kansas and McCain had blocked the chamber from short-cutting the process.

Brownback said in a floor speech Monday that Hill had performed poorly in his previous job as U.S. ambassador to North Korea, given that the country has gone ahead with nuclear ambitions that appear hostile to some. Brownback is simultaneously pushing a bill to restore the status of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism, a designation which the Bush administration removed in 2008.

McCain said he was objecting to Hill’s lack of experience in the Mideast — a marked contrast to the “remarkable tenure” of former Ambassador Ryan Crocker.

“Now is not the time to send a person who I believe is not only unqualified on the face of it, but also has, in my view, not conducted himself in the most admirable fashion in his previous work,” McCain said. “I don’t believe it is appropriate to select as our next ambassador someone who will require on-the-job training on Iraqi affairs and Middle East issues.”

McCain also cited Hill’s “failure” to prevent North Korea from launching nuclear missiles, as well as comments he made to a New York Times reporter about the Bush administration, saying "These (expletives) don’t know how to negotiate," and that his instructions from Washington showed “a complete lack of understanding about how the world works.”

But Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) hailed the final vote. Kerry had fought hard to defend Hill on the Senate floor and said the approval “took much longer than it should have.”

Kerry said Hill has assured him he will be in Baghdad as soon as possible.

“He is one of the best diplomats we have in our country,” Kerry said of Hill. “Despite the significant security improvements, Iraq remains in a precarious state, and we need our ambassador on the ground immediately.”

[annabanana]

1. About time!. . NOW.. let's get Dawn Johnson on board. . .n/t

[babylonsister]

2. Absolutely! Holder needs her! nt

[Cha]

3. So what were the real reasons

brownback and mccain didn't want Christopher Hill to be the Ambassador to Iraq?

[babylonsister]

4. Obstruction, just like they're doing to every last person Obama

has nominated. No more, no less.

[Cha]

5. If they had a brain between them

..they could see what absolute traitors they are to their country.

Obstuction before country.