U.S. President George W. Bush said today he would nominate U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick as the top deputy to incoming Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Bush appeared with Zoellick and Rice outside the White House and said they would form "a really strong and capable foreign policy team. … I've known Zoellick for a long time," the president said. "He's a fine public servant." As deputy secretary of state, Zoellick would replace Richard Armitage, who resigned when Colin Powell announced soon after the November election his intention to quit as secretary of state. Powell is to step down once Rice is confirmed by the Senate, which the White House hopes will occur before Bush's January 20 inauguration.
