In Washington, President Bush officially nominated one of his closest confidants, National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice, to serve as the country’s next Secretary of State. Rice said “I look forward, with the consent of the Senate, to pursuing your hopeful and ambitious agenda as Secretary of State. Mr. President, it is an honour to be asked to serve your administration and my country once again. And it is humbling to imagine succeeding my dear friend and mentor, Colin Powell.” Also on Tuesday, President Bush nominated Rice’s deputy Stephen Hadley to become the nation’s new National Security Advisor.