US defends McGurk as Iraq envoy

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is defending its nominee to be the next ambassador to Iraq amid allegations that he may have acted inappropriately while working at the US Embassy in Baghdad during President George W. Bush’s second term.

The State Department said Friday that Brett McGurk is “uniquely qualified” to serve in the job and urged the Senate to confirm him quickly. Some members of Congress have questioned flirtatious e-mails that McGurk allegedly sent in 2008 to a Baghdad-based female journalist.

Several Republican senators have criticized McGurk for his failure to negotiate a residual US force in Iraq after combat troops left in December 2011. McGurk had no immediate comment. — AP