Hurray for Mark Green!

Green relishes his duties as U.S. ambassador to Tanzania : Ex-congressman prepares for visit from president

GREEN BAY — Almost six months after assuming his post as U.S. ambassador to Tanzania, Mark Green is keeping plenty busy.

In fact, he says he is too immersed in the business of overseeing America's interest in that African nation and preparing for a visit by President Bush to get involved in partisan politics back home or sulk about his own failed run for governor.

In a telephone interview last week from his office in Dar es Salaam, Green, 47, didn't rule out a return to politics, when he returns to the Green Bay area, probably next year. He stressed that he has no specific post in mind.

"I serve at the pleasure of the president," Green said. "I assume the next president, Republican or Democrat, will want to be able to fill this great post with someone of his or her choice."

In the meantime, the former Republican congressman and state legislator from Hobart said he feels honored to be able to serve as the chief U.S. representative to one of America's staunchest African allies. And he's getting ready to support President Bush, who is making his second visit to Africa from Friday through Feb. 21.

"The president will spend the largest part of his African trip here in Tanzania. Tanzania will be the centerpiece of his African trip," Green said. "He is doing a number of things here, but I think the best way to characterize it is, he is coming to see some of his signature policy initiatives at work."

Those policies include programs to support the economic development of Tanzania and campaigns against HIV/AIDS and malaria.

"Before I arrived here, I couldn't have imagined how this touches every single Tanzanian," he said.

"I have not yet met a Tanzanian who does not know someone who is HIV-positive or does not know someone who has lost a loved one because of AIDS. It is a cost to every community. It has weakened the generation that would normally be the income-producing leaders in society. It's a huge challenge."

Green said he's been given the rare opportunity to see firsthand the implementation of some of the programs that he championed in Congress.

"I'm just blessed to have had this exciting chapter open up," he said. "We'll see what the next chapter is, but this is a pretty good place right now."