TOUGH JOB

President Bush yesterday named U.N. Ambassador John D. Negroponte to be the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, one of the first concrete steps Washington has taken to prepare for the June 30 turnover of sovereignty.

Mr. Negroponte, 64, is a seasoned diplomat who has presided over complex negotiations and large staffs as the ambassador to Mexico, the Philippines and Honduras. He also served twice on the National Security Council...

It was not clear when the Senate would vote to confirm Mr. Negroponte. But when the new ambassador takes up his post after the June 30 turnover of sovereignty, he will face one of the toughest jobs ever given to an American diplomat.

I'm going to be very interested to see if the Senate democrats play politics with this nomination.