The first real American ambassador to Iraq

PROFILE: "The Negotiator: Unlike his predecessors, the new U.S. ambassador in Baghdad can't rely on cash and troops to push Washington's interests in Iraq," by Bobby Ghosh, Time, 22 June 2009.

Four-to-five years ago I had dinner with Christopher Hill (set up by a mutual friend), and I will tell you: the guy comes off as completely genuine and sensible and quite smart. He struck me as having the perfect sort of mind for a negotiator: intelligent and flexible but not excessively imaginative; not your "vision guy" but your deal-maker--thus incredibly grounded.

No, he's not a Middle East expert. But I think he's a great choice for Iraq. Lots to negotiate there between them and us, and between them and them and them.

Comments

[William R. Cumming]

So the two sides of the negotiations are: US wants everything but guranteeing nothing and the Iraqis want everything with the US guaranteeing everything?