US names retired diplomat at Iraq reconstruction chief

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced the appointment of a retired diplomat, Timothy Carney, to head a US push to boost Iraq's moribund economy.

Carney, a former ambassador to Haiti and Sudan, will be the Coordinator for Iraq Transitional Assistance under President George W. Bush's just announced new plan for stabilizing Iraq, she said.

"Our military operations must be fully supported and integrated with our civilian and diplomatic efforts across the entire US Government to help Iraqis clear, hold and build throughout all of Iraq," she said.

Rice said a key element of the new strategy will involve increasing the number of so-called Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) tasked with helping develop economic projects and provide jobs.

"We are ready to strengthen, indeed, to surge our civilian efforts," she said, saying the number of PRT's around Iraq will be increase from 10 to 18, including five new units for Baghdad and a tripling of the teams in Anbar province, a center of anti-US insurgency, from one to three.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070111/pl_afp/usiraqreconstruction_070111150001

bio here:
http://portauprince.usembassy.gov/timothy_m4._carney

[maddezmom]

1. BBC: US plans for Iraq 'flawed'(Carney)

The US faces huge challenges in Iraq
A senior American official who spent two months helping the United States' post-war effort in Iraq has strongly criticised reconstruction plans.

In his first broadcast interview since leaving Iraq, Timothy Carney has told the BBC it is clear the White House did not think through its post-war plans and that there was a lack of resources and priority given to reconstruction efforts.

Mr Carney, a former American ambassador with decades of experience in post-conflict zones, spent eight weeks in Iraq trying to get the ministry of industry and minerals up and running.

US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, speaking during a visit to London, admitted the government had overestimated the state of Iraq's infrastructure and found it far worse than expected.

more:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3021632.stm