L. Paul Bremer, 2004 News

former top civilian administrator of Iraq, formally transferred sovereignty back to the Iraqis in June, two days ahead of schedule. Iraqi prime minister Iyad Allawi requested the change to thwart attacks by insurgents. During Bremer's tenure in Iraq, the country slipped into lawlessness and violence. But he did manage to oversee the creation of the Iraqi Governing Council and the formation of the interim Iraqi government. In October, he said he didn't think enough troops were deployed to Iraq, angering the Bush administration. President Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Honor, the highest civilian award, in December.