Negroponte’s Skill Set

The new Deputy Secretary of State brings considerable background and experience with him. Mr. John Negroponte most recently served as National Intelligence Director for the Bush administration. In that role he oversaw all U.S. intelligence and clandestine operations. Prior to that John served as Ambassador to Iraq from June 2004 to April 2005. He also served as ambassador to Honduras, Mexico and the Phillipines.

John served in two countries with internal strife, Iraq and Honduras. What role he played in each countries internal deterioration, only he knows. However as the Middle East continues to fracture, does the U.S. really need someone with Mr. Negroponte’s history as the number 2 person at the State Department? If the plan is to conduct clandestine operations to further divide Hamas and Fatah in the Palestinian Territories, isolated Hezbollah in Lebanon, stoke the fires of “sectarian violence” in Iraq, and play Terminator with Iran, then John Negroponte might have the best skill set.

Are we looking at a good cop (Condi), bad cop (Negroponte) pairing at the State Department? Or will the world look at it more like Abbot and Costello? Condoleeza Rice has been “a day late and a dollar short” for years now in the deteriorating Middle East. When the Saudi’s became concerned, who did they call? Not Condi, but “Shooter” Cheney.

Most countries have some experience with John from his U.N. Ambassador days. From 2001 to 2004 John served as America’s representative to that international body. What happened to its reputation during that time? If I didn’t know better I might characterize it as “an assassination”. But you didn’t hear that from me…