Unexpectedly, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) have a problem with prospective U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Chris Hill. From a joint statement
“„“We have real concerns with the President’s decision to nominate Assistant Secretary Christopher Hill as the next U.S. Ambassador to Iraq,” said Senators Graham and McCain. “While Mr. Hill is a talented diplomat who has served our country for many years, his selection for this post concerns us.
“„“The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad is the world’s largest, and our next ambassador will take the helm at a particularly critical time in our efforts in Iraq,” Graham and McCain continued. “The next ambassador should have experience in the Middle East and in working closely with the U.S. military in counterinsurgency or counterterrorism operations. Mr. Hill has neither. Given these considerations, together with the controversial legacy Mr. Hill left in his North Korea diplomacy, we believe that the President should reconsider this nomination.”
“„In David Sanger’s recently published book, “The Inheritance,” Hill offered a blunt dismissal of his hard-line foes in the administration. “These [expletive deleted] don’t know how to negotiate,” he said. “Everything is Appomattox. It’s just ‘Come out with your hands up.’ ” …
“„Hill arrived in South Korea in 2004, when tensions with the United States were running high. In Seoul, he broke with diplomatic precedent — and charmed the South Korean public — by repeatedly visiting universities and other hotbeds of anti-Americanism to give speeches and have debates. He established an online chat room and personally answered questions from Koreans under the name “ambassador.”