Pentagon spokesman rips Senate over Hill appointment

In case you missed it, Laura Rozen has updated her already blockbuster Cable post from yesterday on Christopher Hill’s delayed appointment as Iraq ambassador with a devastating on-the-record quote from Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ chief spokesman. Here’s what Geoffrey Morrell had to say about the senators holding up Hill’s confirmation: “Generals Odierno and Petraeus have ...

By , a former associate editor at Foreign Policy.

In case you missed it, Laura Rozen has updated her already blockbuster Cable post from yesterday on Christopher Hill's delayed appointment as Iraq ambassador with a devastating on-the-record quote from Defense Secretary Robert Gates' chief spokesman. Here's what Geoffrey Morrell had to say about the senators holding up Hill's confirmation:

In case you missed it, Laura Rozen has updated her already blockbuster Cable post from yesterday on Christopher Hill’s delayed appointment as Iraq ambassador with a devastating on-the-record quote from Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ chief spokesman. Here’s what Geoffrey Morrell had to say about the senators holding up Hill’s confirmation:

“Generals Odierno and Petraeus have come out very publicly and very forcefully in support of Amb. Hill’s nomination. I know they support it. They know him from previous assignments, they like him, they believe he is well suited to the job and are anxiously awaiting his confirmation because they do need help, frankly. …It’s what’s in the best interest of the Iraqi people and the American people.
 
“With regards to [Senate] members who have issues with him, I would say this," Morrell added. “We appreciate their steadfast support of the Iraq mission. But you can’t be bullish in support of that mission and not send an ambassador in a timely fashion.”

Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating

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