Architect of Iraq Appeasement May Get Key Job

One of the architects of the Bush Administration’s ill-fated pre-Gulf War Iraq strategy is expected to be named to a sensitive Defense Department post overseeing global hot spots that pose threats to U.S. interests, Pentagon officials said Friday.

The nomination of James P. (Jock) Covey, a Mideast specialist and career foreign service officer, to be assistant secretary of defense for regional threats would almost certainly set off a flurry of opposition in Congress, according to Democratic and Republican staff members.

When former President George Bush nominated Covey for an assistant secretary of state post last fall, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee blocked the move because of Covey’s deep involvement in the Administration’s policy of prewar appeasement toward Iraq.

“Covey was nominated, but it was held up because of questions raised about his role in the Iraq policy at the State Department,” said Frank A. Sieverts, the committee spokesman.

Opposition came from Republicans as well as Democrats. Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina, the committee’s senior Republican, expressed strong reservations about Covey because of his role in formulating and executing Iraq policy.

Covey’s nomination to the Defense Department post would be considered by the Senate Armed Services Committee.

An aide to a senior Democratic senator said Covey’s potential nomination by President Clinton was causing concern among senators who have strong reservations about Covey.

Attempts to reach Covey were unsuccessful Friday, and the Clinton Administration has not formally named any senior Pentagon officials except for Defense Secretary Les Aspin.

However, Pentagon officials confirmed that Covey was likely to be nominated for the post, which is a reorganized position that would report to Frank G. Wisner, who will be under secretary of defense for policy. Wisner, also a career State Department official, selected Covey as his deputy when he was named ambassador to Egypt in 1986.

Covey was an aide to former Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger. He also was on the National Security Council staff of the Ronald Reagan White House at the time of the arms-for-hostages deal with Iran, but has maintained that he knew nothing of the operation.

In the Bush Administration, Covey was deputy assistant secretary of state with responsibilities for the Mideast, including Iraq. Classified documents and interviews indicate that he helped formulate the policy of trying to moderate the behavior of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein through diplomatic and economic incentives.

Two former Bush Administration sources said Covey had a role in drafting National Security Directive 26, the presidential order that mandated increased ties to Iraq in October, 1989.

Later in 1989, Bush was considering whether to overrule a congressional ban on assistance to Iraq through the U.S. Export-Import Bank. At the time, intelligence reports said Baghdad was testing a ballistic missile and had stolen key nuclear weapons technology.

Covey advocated continuing aid to Iraq. In December, 1989, he and another State Department official wrote a memo dismissing the intelligence warnings and urging the President to continue Export-Import financing for Iraqi projects. Bush adopted the position.

Times staff writer Melissa Healy also contributed to this story.