HOORAY! - US State Dept. Appoints Baghdad Anti-Corruption Initiatives Coordinator

Both SIGIR and I have been preaching that the US State Department needed to escalate the priority of anti-corruption programs in Iraq. SIGIR just issued a status audit report on earlier July 2006 recommendations for improvement which they followed up in two subsequent reports indicating no progress.

However, this new report indicates the State Dept. has finally appointed an experienced diplomat to act as Coordinator for Anti-Corruption Initiatives in Iraq. He reports to the DCM (Deputy Chief of Mission) which is the 2nd highest position in the Embassy, and generally regarded as the position handling operational matters. This is good news.

Read the SIGIR report for the 12 original recommendations, and their updates - only two had been implemented in the past, and they said that the remaining 10 "might" be implemented through this new embassy effort. You can read the report at:
http://www.sigir.mil/reports/pdf/audits/08-016.pdf

From the State Dept press release issued March 11:

Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
March 11, 2008

Appointment of Ambassador Lawrence Benedict as Coordinator for Anti-Corruption Initiatives at U.S. Embassy Baghdad

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Ambassador Lawrence Benedict as the new Coordinator for Anti-Corruption Initiatives at U.S. Embassy Baghdad. He is a seasoned diplomat who will ensure coordination of U.S. Government anti-corruption efforts and support the Government of Iraq as it identifies priorities in the continuing fight against corruption.

Ambassador Benedict is a retired senior career diplomat who has agreed to return to service for this important assignment. He brings tested diplomatic skills and extensive experience in economic and commercial affairs. His most recent assignment with the Department of State was Ambassador to Cape Verde. He has also served in Khartoum, Islamabad, Ankara, Rio de Janeiro, and Dhaka.

2008/177

Released on March 11, 2008