Ryan Crocker announces end of mission in Iraq

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: U.S. Ambassador in Baghdad, Ryan Crocker, on Monday announced the end of his mission in the country. Speaking to some local editors, the ambassador said that his mission as an ambassador of the U.S. to Iraq came to its end after two years of working with the Iraqi government. He described the joint work with the Iraqi government as ‘successful’. Meanwhile, Crocker said that “U.S. President Barack Obama discussed with him and with the Commander of U.S. troops in Iraq Lt. General Raymond Odierno the latest developments in Iraq and the possibility to pull out troops.” “Obama asserted that the president will not take any decision which could not be implemented by the Iraqi government,” he said. “This proves the president’s keenness and interest in implementing the security agreement between the two countries,” Crocker noted. Former U.S. President George W Bush had bestowed the highest civil award on Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq and top Middle East diplomat whom Bush called “America’s Lawrence of Arabia”. Before Baghdad, Crocker served as US ambassador to Pakistan from October 2004 to March 2007. A fluent Arabic speaker, he has also served as ambassador to Syria, ambassador to Kuwait, and ambassador to Lebanon as well as taken diplomatic assignments in Iran, Qatar, Iraq and Egypt. “He was assigned to the American Embassy in Beirut during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and the bombings of the embassy and the Marine barracks in 1983,” the State Department website said. Ryan Crocker was confirmed as Ambassador to Iraq on March 7, 2007. He assumed Chief of Mission duties at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on March 29, 2007, after serving as U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan from October 2004 to March 2007. He served previously as the International Affairs Advisor at the National War College, where he joined the faculty in 2003. From May to August 2003, he was in Baghdad as the first Director of Governance for the Coalition Provisional Authority. He was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs from August 2001 to May 2003, and served previously as Ambassador to Syria (1998-2001), Ambassador to Kuwait (1994-1997) and Ambassador to Lebanon (1990-1993). Since joining the Foreign Service in 1971, he also has had assignments in Iran, Qatar, Iraq and Egypt, as well as Washington. He was assigned to the American Embassy in Beirut during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and the bombings of the embassy and the Marine barracks in 1983. SH (I) 1