The State Dept. Wins One

On Tuesday, Powell told the Senate Foreign Relations committee that while State has "solid representation" on Garner's team, authority in Iraq might be removed from the Pentagon. "The State Department will begin to play a more significant role," Powell said. The appointment of a civilian administrator over Garner had long been expected, but it was unclear whether it would be a Pentagon or State Department candidate.

Some allies of Powell in Washington cheered the designation of Bremer, saying he will provide a counterforce to neoconservative ideologues at the Pentagon and White House. "It's a very good idea, you need a senior diplomatic person there," said one U.S. official. "That was the missing piece. He's very much in the Kissinger-Baker mode, very much a realist about it," referring to former secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and James Baker.

During a 23-year State Department career, Bremer served as special assistant or executive assistant to six Secretaries of State. In 1999, Bremer was appointed chairman of the National Commission on Terrorism by House Speaker Denny Hastert. The Commission reviewed America's counter-terrorism policies and reported its recommendations to the President of the United States and to the Speaker in June, 2000.

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