US President Barack Obama announced here Friday his intent to nominate James Jeffrey as Ambassador to Iraq, where he is to replace Ambassador Christopher Hill, according to the White House. Obama said in a statement in which he announced his nomination of other key administration posts that he is "grateful that these experienced men and women have agreed to serve in my administration as we work to meet our nations most pressing challenges." He added "I look forward to working with them in the coming months and years." Jeffrey is currently Ambassador to Turkey, where he has been assigned this post in November 2008. Ambassador Jeffrey has previously served in Washington as Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor, as well as Special Advisor to the Secretary of State for Iraq. From 2004-2005, Jeffrey served in Baghdad as Deputy Chief of Mission and later Charge D'affaires, according to a report of Kuwait News Agency "KUNA." His previous assignments included Deputy Chief of Mission in both Turkey and Kuwait.
