Name That Nabob
www.washingtonpost.com By Al Kamen Monday, February 24, 2003; Page A19
The war in Iraq, likely in the next few weeks, is not expected to last long, given the overwhelming U.S. firepower to be arrayed against the Iraqis. But the trickier job may be in the aftermath, when Washington plans to install an administrator, or viceroy, who would direct postwar reconstruction of the place.
Given the fractious nature of the country and its warring groups, the job will require extraordinary skill, smarts, toughness and finesse. The supreme civil authority, administration officials say, is to be an American "of stature," perhaps a former state governor or ambassador.
But whom should it be?
Yes, this calls for the In the Loop Pick the Potentate Contest. Loop Fans can help find the perfect regent to preside over the planned "consultative council," to restore democracy for the first time ever in beleaguered Iraq. A former governor? A former ambassador? Maybe a business leader or someone who excels in law, science, education, the arts or even sports?
Send in your nomination -- only one -- along with a very brief rationale to: In the Loop, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071, or via e-mail to loop@washpost.com. Please include your name, occupation and work and home telephone numbers. Hill and administration folks may of course enter on background. The deadline for entries is March 5. Winners will receive one of our lovely blue In the Loop mugs -- a new supply just came in for the last contest.
War Is Hell, for The Donald
The looming war has already altered some things. We lament that the biannual Department of Defense procurement conference, where everyone who's anyone in the defense procurement community gathers, and which had been scheduled for the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City in May, has been put off.
A recent e-mail from the Pentagon planners said they "regret to announce that we are taking the drastic step of postponing the conference until late spring 2004. We are doing this because of the imminence of the commitment of US troops to armed conflict and the heightened state of terrorism alert we are currently experiencing."
Even at the blackjack tables? Operation Urgent Flurry
Speaking of invasions . . . the nasty winter weather of late probably has people kicking themselves for not having signed up for Saturday's Caribbean cruise to commemorate the 20th anniversary of "Operation Urgent Fury." That, as everyone knows, was the name for the invasion of Grenada to restore order, kick out the commie Cubans and protect several hundred American medical students.
Former Reagan National Security Council aide Oliver L. North, now a talk show host, leads the fun-filled weeklong "unique commemorative event," sponsored by North's nonprofit Freedom Alliance. It leaves from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and includes stops in Aruba, Venezuela, Dominica and St. Thomas.
It looks to be nonstop partying with such celebrity passengers as former attorney general Edwin Meese III, National Rifle Association executive vice president Wayne LaPierre and Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.). Top cabins, running $5,759 for a single, not including airfare to San Juan, were reportedly gobbled up.
North, a former Marine who modestly claims but a "small role" in the invasion, is leading a private tour of Grenada.
Meanwhile, just to show that the Grenadans appreciated our help, they reestablished relations with Cuba in the 1990s: Fidel Castro visited in 1998 and the countries exchanged ambassadors last year for the first time in 20 years.
During the invasion, Cubans were helping to build the airport. A few years back, Cuban engineers were back in Grenada helping to design a national stadium.
She Must Get a Good Deal on Multiple Prints
Folks at the National Transportation Safety Board should be eagerly awaiting the arrival of Ellen G. Engleman, now administrator of the Department of Transportation's Research and Special Program Administration, who's been nominated to chair the NTSB.
One of the fine innovations at RSPA this last year was a newsletter called "RSPA Results" It's naturally a wonderfully upbeat 12-page quarterly bulletin that the NTSB would do well to emulate.
The first issue had five pictures of Engleman doing important things. The second had five photos of her -- including a twofer of her giving a speech before an image of herself on a large screen. The third issue only had three, but the most recent Winter 2002-2003 edition, probably her last, had a whopping 12 photos of the administrator.
Well, they won't forget what she looked like. The FBI Won't Be Looking for Him
Might be best to keep the calendar clear for March 31. A Texas man has filed a civil rights lawsuit against a prominent Washingtonian, according to the legal notices section last week in The Washington Post.
"You are hereby commanded to appear" or file a response by 10 a.m. on the 31st "before the Honorable Robert J. Vargas, at the courthouse in Corpus Christi," the notice says.
And the defendant? A certain John Edgar Hoover. If he shows, let's hope Vargas takes a picture. If he doesn't show, "a default judgment may be taken against you," the notice warns.
Hmmm . . . The least of his problems.