White House seeks war "czar" for Iraq

By Tabassum Zakaria

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Help Wanted: White House seeks high-profile manager of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to coordinate competing agencies and make sure President George W. Bush's unpopular strategy is implemented.

In a tradition of presidential trouble-shooting, the White House is considering creating a "war czar" post in the National Security Council and has put out feelers to some retired generals to see if they would be interested.

But no takers so far. The Washington Post said at least three retired four-star generals approached by the White House in recent weeks had turned down the position.

Retired Marine Gen. John "Jack" Sheehan, a former top NATO commander who rejected the White House overture, told the Post: "The very fundamental issue is, they don't know where the hell they're going."

After U.S. intelligence agencies came under fire for failures related to the September 11 attacks and Iraq, an "intelligence czar" was created as recommended by the 9/11 Commission.

The U.S. government also has a "drug czar" to oversee efforts to fight illegal drugs.

The "war czar" would report directly to Bush and national security adviser Stephen Hadley and coordinate policy with agencies including the Pentagon and the State Department, which at times have their own competing agendas.

Sheehan told the Post he thought Vice President Dick Cheney's hawkish war views continued to dominate administration policy. Retired Army Gen. Jack Keane and retired Air Force Gen. Joseph Ralston were also approached and said they were not interested, the newspaper said.