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Zinni Drama for Mr Obama

Laura Rozen apparently has wiretaps over at the NSC, too.  Check out her ridiculous account of General Zinni's almost-ambassadorship-to-Iraq.  General Jim Jones offered Zinni the Baghdad post.  But a week later, Zinni was still twisting in the wind.  We now know he was passed over in favor of Christopher Hill, leading the New Republic to describe the final exchange thusly:

an Obama appointment gone awry, which concludes with a respected general suggesting the national security advisor perform an anatomically difficult feat.

Just FYI:  that's Charlie's favorite euphemism in all of journalism.

Also, the Weekly Standard puts this at the feet of Richard Hollbrooke, career godfather to the erstwhile Hill.  Intriguing, but far from certain.

Anyone know of any bad blood between Zinni and Jones?  You know, before this week?  And should there have been concern about retired generals serving as ambassadors in both Baghdad and Kabul?

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