A governor please, Butler

The Age, Australia ^ | August 18, 2003 - 1:28PM | - AAP

[JerseyHighlander]

Former chief United Nations weapons inspector Richard Butler was today named Tasmania's new governor.

Mr Butler, 61, will be sworn in on October 3, replacing current governor Sir Guy Green, who is retiring after eight years in the vice-regal post.

Premier Jim Bacon announced Mr Butler's appointment today, saying he was regarded as one of the world's most respected commentators on international affairs.

Mr Butler has been an outspoken critic of the Howard government's decision to join the United States war on Iraq, and last month accused Prime Minister John Howard of misleading parliament over the issue.

However Mr Butler told journalists in Hobart today he would respect the rules and conventions of the vice regal office.

"My days of directly attacking policies of particular governments are for now over," he said.

Mr Butler was a career diplomat, serving as Australian Ambassador to the United Nations for five years before becoming a UN weapons inspector.

He is married with four children.

[JerseyHighlander]

As time goes on and the Bush admin. and DoD prepare a document dump on Iraqi WMD before the Iowa caucus, Gov. Butler will be largely missing from the talking head circuit stateside. He was in my opinion the best arrow in the quiver of the anti-war camp regarding the WMD perspective.