Remembering Andi

Yesterday Andrea Parhamovich, a friend and colleague, lost her life in the streets of Baghdad. She was not there to fight, she did not even carry a weapon. Her purpose was the people of Iraq, and doing what good she could to help them build a brighter future for themselves and their country.

I won't share more now, but to say that I am thinking of you, Mulder.

TC

[I want to thank Arwa Damon from CNN for her sensitive and caring handling of this story.]



American aid worker killed in Iraq identified

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- An American woman who worked with a group promoting democracy in Iraq, killed when a convoy was attacked in Baghdad Wednesday, has been identified as Andrea "Andi" Parhamovich, of the Cleveland suburb of Perry, according to the National Democratic Institute.

Parhamovich, 28, worked as a communication strategist for NDI. Her job was to help Iraqi political party leaders and parliamentarians develop strategies to reach out to voters and constituents.

Three security people -- a Hungarian, a Croatian and an Iraqi -- were also killed in the ambush. They were employed by the Unity Resources Group.

NDI issued a press statement about Parhamovich, detailing her professional career.

A graduate of Marietta College in southeastern Ohio, Parhamovich "developed her career in political communication" with several entities, including the Massachusetts Governor's office and Department of Economic Development, Air America Radio, and the International Republican Institute in Iraq, NDI said

She joined NDI's Baghdad staff in late 2006.

NDI Chairwoman Madelein K. Albright said, "There is no more sacred roll of honor than those who have given their last full measure in support of freedom.

"Yesterday, in Iraq, Andrea Parhamovich and our security personnel were enshrined on that list. They did not see themselves as heroes, only people doing a job on behalf of a cause they believed in. They were not the enemies of anyone in Iraq; they were there to help."

Parhamovich's co-workers in Baghdad remembered their colleague's loyalty and humility, and her "tremendous integrity, personal strength and class."

"She had a silver tongue, a quick wit, and a knack for picking Oscar winners," a friend said.

One co-worker said Parhamovich lost her life the way she lived it, by doing something that she believed in.

-- CNN's Arwa Damon in Baghdad Susan Garraty in Washington contributed to this report

Quick Fire Friday

The Out-of-Towners
The empty streets and available Metro seats have faded away with the commencement of the 110th Congress (Senate, House). Making history, Representative Nancy Pelosi from California became the first woman elected Speaker of the House. My take: the hair and suit were fabulous. I hope you enjoyed the celebrations yesterday, because today you are responsible. Ah, the down side of power.

Popped My Ballon
Sure, when I picked on Senator Barack Obama for being inexperienced (see Wag the Dog comment from December 27) it was entertaining (at least to me). Senator Hillary Clinton doing it has just sucked all the fun out of it. The enemy of my enemy...?

No Sensitivity for Saddam
I find it interesting that tying a rope around a person, dropping them through a hole in the floor and watching their neck snap in half is completely acceptable, but heaven forbid you mock them before you do it. Now, THAT is cruel and inhumane.

Redeployment for Everyone
Ambassador John Negroponte is leaving Intellgience and going to the State Department, Vice Admiral Mike McConnell is leaving retirement to go to Intelligence, Zalmay Khalilzad is leaving Iraq for the U.N., Ryan Crocker is leaving Pakistan for Baghdad, Admiral William Fallon is leaving the Pacific to replace General John Abizaid in the Middle East, Army Lt. Gen. David Petraeus is leaving his post overseeing the training of Iraqi security forces to take General George Casey's top spot in Iraq. No word yet on where Abizaid and Casey are going. Or, where Iraq is headed. The president says he will share more about that next week. As for the new Democrat-led Congress, all those campaign cries to bring the troops home suddenly become a call for redeployment yesterday in Speaker Pelosi's address. I guess that is the theme of the week.

Shout Out
A quick "hello and stay safe" to my friends in Baghdad who are working hard, in many cases risking their lives, to ensure a brigher future for themselves and their country.

TC

Tags// Senate, House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senator Barack Obama, Senator Hillary Clinton, White House News

Mass Appeal?

Another new year, another new (almost) candidate.

Talk about town says that Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts will file the papers required to form an exploratory committee for the 2008 presidential election; look for an official announcement tomorrow. Romney’s people say he is waiting until the conclusion of the state funeral for Gerald R. Ford out of respect for the former president.

Several polls conducted last month show Romney hovering around fourth place behind well known Republicans like Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Condoleezza Rice and Newt Gingrich. (Gallop Poll 5th, 4 percent; NBC News/Wall Street Journal 4th, 8%; ABC News/Washington Post 4th, 5%; CNN 4th, 6%. ) [All Poll Summaries]

Romney’s potential candidacy could place religion at the forefront of the American presidential election discussion in a way we haven’t seen since the questions of John F. Kennedy’s Catholicism arose nearly half a century ago. Romney is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (a.k.a. Mormon) and, as such, may experience more ease or difficulty – depending upon the person you ask – accessing the nationwide evangelical network.

While he may utilize his conservative credentials to dispell the notion of the typical northeastern liberal (see John Kerry here), the governor has also put great emphasis on developing more left-leaning associated programs like universal health care (and I use that term loosely). Last spring, Romney signed legislation that “through a private, market-based reform will make health insurance available to every resident of Massachusetts within the next three years.” [Summary of Legislation]

Among his other accomplishments, Romney also lists running billion dollar surpluses in the state budget, replenishing the state’s rainy day fund, providing tax relief for senior citizens, successfully navigating the federal base closing process to preserve all major military bases in Massachusetts and enacting some of the toughest drunk driving laws in the state’s history.

Before becoming the top dog in Massachusetts, Romney served as the CEO of the organizing committee for the XIX Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake, City Utah. Shortly before the games, a number of International Olympic Committee members were forced to resign after it was discovered they had inappropriately accepted gifts in return for supporting Salt Lake City’s bid. Many credit Romney for saving the games from scandal.

TC

Tags// Governor Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Senator John McCain, Condoleezza Rice, Newt Gingrich, Polling Report