Senate Floor Statement of Senator Lugar Lugar Floor Statement on Chris Hill Tuesday, April 21, 2009 U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar made the following speech on the floor of the Senate last night in support of Christopher Hill to be Ambassador to Iraq:   I rise in support of the nomination of Christopher Hill to be Ambassador to Iraq. During his 32-year career, he has led three embassies and served as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. In that position, he was the Bush Administration’s point man at the Six Party Talks on North Korea. As Assistant Secretary, Chris Hill demonstrated outstanding diplomatic and managerial skills in dealing with one of our most difficult foreign policy challenges. His innovative approach contributed to successes, including the ongoing disablement of the Yongbyon nuclear complex in the presence of American monitors, the re-entry into North Korea of IAEA officials, and the potential transition of the Six Party process into a forum for broader multi-lateral engagement in Northeast Asia.   North Korea remains an inscrutable regime with unpredictable motivations. Any suggestion that the North Korea nuclear issue lends itself to obvious solutions or the application of a standard diplomatic playbook is off the mark. Ambassador Hill had to apply both imagination and persistence in moving this complex process forward in five foreign capitals.   Now President Obama has tapped him to address another of the most important foreign policy challenges confronting the United States. In my judgment, it would take extraordinary circumstances for the Senate to deny the President his choice of an Ambassador to carry out his directives in Iraq, especially given that the President will be judged meticulously on what happens there.   Ambassador Hill has unique experience in managing the type of regional diplomatic effort that is likely to be required at this stage of Iraq’s development. Iraq’s success will increasingly depend on regional factors involving the activities of both friends and adversaries. We must seek to reassure allies and send adversaries the clear message that the United States remains committed to regional stability and has no intention of leaving a vacuum in Iraq that could be exploited.   Prime Minister Maliki’s outreach to Sunnis has already reduced tensions among Iraq’s Sunni neighbors. Leaders from Turkey, Jordan, Syria, and virtually all of the Gulf States, including Kuwait, have paid high-level visits and appointed ambassadors, indicating acceptance of the Shia-run government.   Across the region, and internationally, the incentive structure for involvement in Iraq is fundamentally different than it was two years ago. Coupled with the drawdown, the time is right to expand our engagements, solidify regional security gains, and cultivate more robust regional and international cooperation in Iraq. Ideally, this cooperation would include regular and wide-ranging talks with neighboring states on broader issues of regional security. One of the purposes of these talks must be to avoid surprise and miscalculation in the region that could ignite further conflict.   Through the confluence of many factors, Iraq is showing positive trend lines. American casualties are at their lowest mark since the conflict began six years ago. The Iraqi government held successful elections last month, and those provincial councils are convening, electing chairmen, and beginning to set their agendas.   But progress in Iraq remains vulnerable to political rivalry, outside interference, and the slow pace of economic reconstruction. Government institutions at all levels remain underdeveloped, inefficient, and subject to corruption. The economy, which grew at a rate of 3.5% in the first two quarters of 2008, has slipped as oil prices have dropped. Oil production rates are flat, and reduced revenues may slow the efforts of Iraq’s government to make necessary infrastructure investments. Unemployment and underemployment remain high. Because of these and other conditions, Ambassador Crocker and General Odierno have described Iraq’s progress as fragile and reversible. It is important to get our next Ambassador in place as quickly as possible.   I have appreciated Ambassador Hill’s accessibility to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In addition to nine appearances before the Committee in the last five years, he has always been willing to meet with us privately about developments on the Korean Peninsula or elsewhere in East Asia.   I also appreciate his willingness to accept this difficult post, especially after several years of an unrelenting diplomatic activity. I am hopeful that the Senate will move forward on his nomination. I yield the floor.   ###