A U.S. Senate panel on Thursday approved the nomination of John Negroponte, the outgoing director of national intelligence, to become deputy secretary of state, sending the nomination to the full Senate. Negroponte, a career diplomat who served as ambassador to Iraq and the United Nations, is expected to be easily confirmed by the full Senate to become the State Department's second-ranking official, a position vacant since Robert Zoellick departed in July. On Wednesday, the Senate confirmed retired Navy Admiral Mike McConnell to replace Negroponte as President George W. Bush's top intelligence advisor.
