Deserving Respect: Ambassador Crocker

By David Aikman

Recently, two really outstanding Americans made a public appearance before Congress. Senators and Representatives almost climbed over each other to compliment the better known of the two, General Petraeus, whose military skills have significantly improved the situation in Iraq. But kudos should also go to Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Baghdad. Crocker is a man of exceptional ability and intelligence. Fluent in Arabic and Persian and a former ambassador in Lebanon, Kuwait and Pakistan, he embodies the best of American State Department professionalism. In 2002 in a memo to then Secretary of State Colin Powell, he outlined some of the risks inherent in the invasion of Iraq. All his predictions came true. Americans are quick to recognize their military heroes. In Crocker's case, they should also recognize diplomatic heroism.

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