As published on shadow.foreignpolicy.com on June 29, 2009:

While I am thinking about the intersection of personnel and policy, I wonder what to make of this bit of news: apparently VP Biden will be tapped as the “unofficial envoy to Iraq.” This appears not to be the same role as that filled by General Lute, President Bush’s “Iraq czar” who was primarily responsible for knocking heads together back in DC to help the mission overseas. Lute still remains (for the time being) but his position has been downgraded several levels from an Assistant to the President down to a Special Assistant to the President. And, obviously, it is not the same position as the official envoy to Iraq, Ambassador Chris Hill — the President’s personal civilian representative in Baghdad — although it sounds like it will overlap heavily with that position. Having someone at a senior level focused on Iraq makes sense and it does not get much more senior than the Vice President. So on paper, at least, this is not a bad idea. What concerns me is precisely what Rahm Emanuel told Newsweek, namely that Biden “… knows the players…He brings a lot of experience and expertise on this issue to the table…”

Read the full article here