Ignoring McCain, Senate Confirms Hill

Over the strenuous opposition of John McCain, the Senate has confirmed Christopher Hill as the new ambassador to Iraq. McCain, along with Republican Senator Sam Brownback, blocked the shortcutting of Hill’s nomination, arguing that he did a poor job as nuclear envoy to North Korea, which recently launched long-range missiles. “I don’t believe it is appropriate to select as our next ambassador someone who will require on-the-job training on Iraqi affairs and Middle East issues,” said McCain. The former presidential candidate also objected to Hill’s comments to a New York Times reporter about the Bush administration. “These [expletives] don’t know how to negotiate,” he was quoted as saying. Senator John Kerry, on the other hand, calls Hill one of the country’s best diplomats.