Sources: Garner Out in Iraq Shuffle By Knut Royce
Washington Bureau Chief
Washington -- In an apparent acknowledgment that postwar reconstruction efforts in Iraq are floundering, the White House plans to name a politically astute career diplomat to replace Jay Garner as the civilian administrator of the country, sources said Thursday.
L. Paul Bremer, ambassador-at-large for counterterrorism in the Reagan administration, will report directly to the White House, sources said.
It was not immediately clear whether Garner, a retired Army lieutenant general who reports to the Pentagon, will stay on under Bremer. Garner was handpicked in January to oversee the reconstruction by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. He held his first meeting in Iraq on April 15.
Bremer's expected appointment, which might be announced as early as Friday, could be a big plus for the State Department, which has feuded with the Defense Department over how the transition to democracy should be managed while playing second fiddle to the Pentagon in staffing the transition team.
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"They [the White House] lost confidence in Garner's ability to supervise the transition to Iraqi democracy,� said a source close to the administration. While well-liked by the military brass, Garner "was not sophisticated enough to supervise the transition,� he said.
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During his career with the State Department, Bremer was an assistant to six different secretaries of state, including Henry Kissinger. After retiring he joined Kissinger Associates as managing director.
Gelbard said that Bremer "will get along extremely well with [Secretary of State Colin] Powell.�
"He's one of the most organized individuals I have ever encountered,� Gelbard said. "He also knows the bureaucracy very well. He made his career in Washington. He did in part because of his outstanding intellect, but also because he was able to manipulate the bureaucratic system, which is critical for getting anything done in the executive branch.�
Washington Bureau Chief
Washington -- In an apparent acknowledgment that postwar reconstruction efforts in Iraq are floundering, the White House plans to name a politically astute career diplomat to replace Jay Garner as the civilian administrator of the country, sources said Thursday.
L. Paul Bremer, ambassador-at-large for counterterrorism in the Reagan administration, will report directly to the White House, sources said.
It was not immediately clear whether Garner, a retired Army lieutenant general who reports to the Pentagon, will stay on under Bremer. Garner was handpicked in January to oversee the reconstruction by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. He held his first meeting in Iraq on April 15.
Bremer's expected appointment, which might be announced as early as Friday, could be a big plus for the State Department, which has feuded with the Defense Department over how the transition to democracy should be managed while playing second fiddle to the Pentagon in staffing the transition team.
>>
"They [the White House] lost confidence in Garner's ability to supervise the transition to Iraqi democracy,� said a source close to the administration. While well-liked by the military brass, Garner "was not sophisticated enough to supervise the transition,� he said.
>>
During his career with the State Department, Bremer was an assistant to six different secretaries of state, including Henry Kissinger. After retiring he joined Kissinger Associates as managing director.
Gelbard said that Bremer "will get along extremely well with [Secretary of State Colin] Powell.�
"He's one of the most organized individuals I have ever encountered,� Gelbard said. "He also knows the bureaucracy very well. He made his career in Washington. He did in part because of his outstanding intellect, but also because he was able to manipulate the bureaucratic system, which is critical for getting anything done in the executive branch.�
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