WTF Is It Now?!?

Whoa: Rummy's guy gets the boot
The Bush misadministration has selected L. Paul Bremer, a former U.S. diplomat, to be the civilian administrator guiding reconstruction efforts in Iraq. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Bremer would supplant Jay Garner, a retired Army lieutenant general.

'Bremer's selection comes amid tensions between the Defense Department and the State Department over the direction of U.S. foreign policy and the handling of the postwar effort in Iraq after a U.S.-led invasion ousted the government of Saddam Hussein.

'Bremer will lead U.S. efforts to get Iraq back on its feet and creating a democratic government, and will out-rank Garner.

'The choice of Mr. Bremer is a victory for the State Department over the Pentagon, and comes after weeks of what many officials say has been a sharp dispute between the two agencies. It also comes amid pressure from Britain, Arab nations and members of the United Nations Security Council for more of a civilian face on the Iraqi occupation.

'The decision has been tightly held. Some administration officials were so concerned that the move not look like a setback for Don Rumsfeld that they were considering having him announce it upon his return from Baghdad on Friday night, to make it look like a Pentagon initiative.'