Negroponte on Baghdad: "I've got to get out of there"

[Cocoa]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/18/politics/18director.html?pagewanted=print&position=&oref=login

<snip>

But Mr. Negroponte was also known to be eager to leave Baghdad, where he had served as a round-the-clock ambassador from the time of the transfer of sovereignty to the caretaker government there, through the roiling battles against insurgents, and up to the elections at the end of last month.

"He made clear to everyone every time he came back that 'I've got to get out of there,' " said a senior administration official who asked not to be named because he did not want to publicly question Mr. Negroponte's enthusiasm for his service in Iraq.

The official said that he saw Mr. Negroponte on Monday, but had no indication from him that he was in line for the director's job. "I said, 'So what's the story?' and he said, 'I want to get out of Baghdad as soon as possible.' He said, 'They want me to come back for something, but I want to do the private sector.' "

[K-W]

1. I bet hes just frustrated because there arent enough death squads. nt