Bush looking for 'war Czar' to oversee Iraq, Afghan operations

WASHINGTON: The White House has been unsuccessfully trying to find a war "czar" to oversee operations in Iraq and Afghanistan with at least three retired Generals rejecting the offer, a leading US daily reported on Wednesday.

The war "czar" will coordinate civilian and military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan as the Pentagon and the State department have long struggled over their roles and responsibilities and the White House has been often forced to referee.

The White House has in mind someone who will report directly to the President and his National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, according to a report in The Washington Post.

"The very fundamental issue is, they don't know where the hell they're going," retired Marine Gen. John J. "Jack" Sheehan, a former top NATO commander, who was among those offered the job, was quoted as saying in The Post.

Sheehan said he believes that Vice President Cheney and his hawkish allies remain more powerful within the administration than pragmatists looking for a way out of Iraq.

"So rather than go over there, develop an ulcer and eventually leave, I said, 'No, thanks,'" he said.

The White House has not publicly disclosed its interest in creating the position, hoping to find someone President Bush can anoint and announce for the post all at once.

Gordon Johndroe, a National Security Council spokesman, would not discuss contacts with candidates but confirmed that officials are considering a newly empowered czar, the daily reported.

"The White House is looking at a number of options on how to structure the Iraq and Afghanistan office in light of Meghan O'Sullivan's departure and the completion of both the Iraq and Afghanistan strategic reviews," Johndroe said.

"No decisions have been made" and "a list of candidates has not been narrowed down," he was quoted as saying.

The paper said the administration's interest in the idea stems from long-standing concern over the coordination of civilian and military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan by different parts of the US government.

The new czar would also have "tasking authority," or the power to issue directions, over other agencies, The Post said quoting sources.

The White House is searching for someone with enough stature and confidence to deal directly with heavyweight administration figures such as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defence Secretary Robert M. Gates.

Besides Gen. Sheehan others who have been sounded out include retired Army Gen. Jack Keane and retired Air Force Gen. Joseph W. Ralston, who also said they are not interested.

Gen. Sheehan has said that Hadley contacted him and they discussed the job for two weeks but that he was dubious from the start.

"I've never agreed on the basis of the war, and I'm still skeptical. Not only did we not plan properly for the war, we grossly underestimated the effect of sanctions and Saddam Hussein on the Iraqi people," Gen Sheehan told The Post.