Senate Confirms Crocker: Ambassador to Iraq

Caption: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, right.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed Ryan Crocker, U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, as the new U.S. ambassador to Iraq.

President Bush nominated Crocker to succeed the current ambassador in Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, in a shuffle of advisers announced in January ahead of his latest Iraq strategy.

Crocker, a career diplomat, has been Washington’s ambassador to Pakistan since November 2004.

Previously, he served as the first Director of Governance for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad from May to August 2003.

Khalilzad was nominated to be the U.S. envoy to the United Nations. If confirmed, he would replace John Bolton, who stepped down after Democrats made clear they would block his renomination. Bolton had served under a temporary appointment that expired in January.

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