It is becoming clearer why Richard Holbrooke interceded to get failed North Korean nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill appointed as the US Ambassador to Iraq:

President Barack Obama has taken great care in the first days of his administration to calm the waters of international relations with promises of cooperation and respect for other nations.

But his new envoy to South Asia, in contrast, has landed with a splash.

Officials in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India have reacted uneasily to the appointment of envoy Richard Holbrooke because of indications the veteran diplomat, nicknamed the “the Bulldozer,” intends to shake things up in the troubled region.

Holbrooke, who embarks on his first official visit next week, has declared in recent months that the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, a longtime American ally, has failed. In opinion columns, he has pointed to “massive, officially sanctioned corruption,” along with drugs, as the country’s most severe problem.

Holbrooke has called for vigorous action to deal with extremist sanctuaries in Pakistan. He charged that Pakistan has the power to destabilize Afghanistan—”and has.”

He has even taken a shot at the current U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, William Wood, saying that because of Wood’s support for using herbicides on opium poppies, he is known in Kabul as “Chemical Bill.”  [Chicago Tribune]

So Holbrooke knew he was going to get appointed to this position and Chris Hill is reported to be his protege and that is probably why he backstapped Zinni to get Chris Hill appointed to the Iraq position.  Clearly who you know is more important then what you know in the State Department.