John Negroponte is apparently the likely new Iraq ambassador.

His chief previous experience is in funding shadowy right-wing death squads in Honduras, as part of the USA’s long-term mission to annoy or kill everyone in Latin America (see also Monroe – not the sexy one – and Roosevelt – not the Nazi-defeating one).

Should Mr Negroponte be given the governorship, this will not be evidence that the USA’s intentions in Iraq – and by extension, the Middle East – are overwhelmingly positive. Hell, even Paul Wolfowitz would be a better pick…