DoJ press secretary Corallo to join US' PR efforts in rebuilding of Iraq

The 37-year-old Army veteran is expected to take over day-to-day press duties for the team led by retired Lt. General Jay Garner, "working with the media to make sure that the Iraqi people and in fact the rest of the world understand that we are a nation that keeps its promises," he offered.

Corallo, who spent last week in Texas receiving weapons training, will report directly to US Ambassador to Morocco Margaret Tutwiler. The long-time Republican spokeswoman is acting as communications director in Baghdad while she mulls an offer from the Bush administration to become the next undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs, replacing Charlotte Beers. She left the post last month, citing health reasons.

Corallo himself was still unclear what structure the PR team would assume under Garner. "I'm sure I'll have a much better idea once I get there," he said. The US' message, however, appeared set: "We promised to liberate the Iraqi people from Saddam Hussein, and we further promised we would help them rebuild a free and stable society. We are letting them know that we will be keeping our promises," he explained.

Prior to joining the DoJ, Corallo served as communications director for the House Government Reform Committee, and worked on President Bush's 2000 campaign. He will return to his job at the DoJ following his tenure in Iraq.

This article was first published on PR Week USA