More of Poppy's cabal
And how could I fail to mention this blast from the past?
Baker asked to lead reconstruction The Washington Post
WASHINGTON--The White House hopes to persuade former Secretary of State James Baker to take charge of the physical and economic reconstruction of Iraq as part of a broad restructuring of postwar efforts, administration sources said Friday.
Under the plan, L. Paul Bremer, the chief U.S. administrator in Iraq, would focus on rebuilding the country's political system. The new structure is still in the discussion stages, and a source close to Baker said he has not accepted the job.
And just for kicks, I was wondering what Secretary of State Baker was up to twelve years ago:
BAKER URGES MONGOLIA TO CONTINUE DEMOCRATIZATION
David Hoffman, Washington Post Staff Writer
July 27, 1991
Secretary of State James A. Baker III urged Mongolia today to stick by its ambitious and painful experiment in democracy and free markets.
Baker, the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Mongolia, in a speech to its legislature, declared: "You were the first country {in Asia} to embrace communism. Now you are the first communist country in Asia to choose democracy." Baker vowed that the United States would attempt to help Mongolia with the difficult economic and political...
Mongolia, eh? So where is Colin Powell spending his post-gulf War II summer vacation?
Comments
Well, it looks like Baker didn't end up taking over in Iraq after all. Maybe he just wouldn't put up with the Paul Bremer makeover required: I have a picture of the courtly and impeccaby dressed Baker, barefoot in his $3,000 pinstriped suit, silk tie and starched shirt, trying with all his might to fight off Paul Bremer, who is forcing those goofy combat boots on him.
Meanwhile, a grinning Karl Rove, Master of Image Making, is walking off triumphantly, holding Baker's $500 Brooks Brothers tasseled loafers and silk socks.
Posted by: Ken Wells | February 27, 2004 07:26 PM