Vacant State Department inspector general position draws criticism

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As the State Department gears up to take over new responsibilities in Iraq from the military over the next year, the Obama administration’s failure to nominate a top internal watchdog for its diplomatic work in the Middle East and elsewhere has begun to attract new criticism.

The inspector general’s position in the department has been unfilled since 2007, longer than any of the other 72 such positions in the government. Harold W. Geisel, a deputy who formerly worked as a U.S. ambassador, has run the office instead, and he says he has doubled its staff and tripled its investigations.

As the State Department gears up to take over new responsibilities in Iraq from the military over the next year, the Obama administration’s failure to nominate a top internal watchdog for its diplomatic work in the Middle East and elsewhere has begun to attract new criticism.

The inspector general’s position in the department has been unfilled since 2007, longer than any of the other 72 such positions in the government. Harold W. Geisel, a deputy who formerly worked as a U.S. ambassador, has run the office instead, and he says he has doubled its staff and tripled its investigations.

Full story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/vacant_state_department_inspector_general_position_draws_criticism/2011/04/22/AFzrzLlE_story.html