(Adds details, background, quotes) WASHINGTON, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, is expected to be nominated the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations as President George W. Bush attempts to chart a new course for his Iraq policy, two U.S. officials said on Thursday. One official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters he understood that the appointment "was about to be announced" by the White House. A second official said Bush was leaning toward naming Khalilzad and expected him to be nominated. Khalilzad, who had also served as ambassador to Afghanistan during Bush's first term, would replace John Bolton, who left the U.N. post last week. Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, would be nominated to replace Khalilzad in Baghdad, an official said. The changes are part of a big realignment of administration personnel as Bush seeks to change his approach to Iraq, where nearly four years of a large U.S. military presence has failed to bring stability and an end to violence. In other changes, ABC News said Bush was expected to nominate Adm. William Fallon to replace Gen. John Abizaid as the head of U.S. Central Command, which is in charge of U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fallon currently is the top U.S. military commander in the Pacific. The move would place a Navy admiral in control of two land wars. Lt. Gen. David Petraeus was expected to become the top ground commander in Iraq, replacing Gen. George Casey, ABC said, citing unnamed officials. The Pentagon declined to comment on the ABC report.
