Ricciardone will oversee U.S. policy regarding opposition groups inside Iraq RELATED VIDEO CNN's Andrea Koppel talks Frank Ricciardone Windows Media 28K 80K  ALSO: U.S. fighters attack Iraqi anti-aircraft site

LONDON (CNN) -- At a series of meetings between U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Arab leaders this week, a new figure watched from the background -- a little-known envoy who shoulders a tremendous responsibility -- coordinating the overthrow of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

He is the United States' special representative for transition in Iraq, Frank Ricciardone, a seasoned diplomat who holds long experience with the Iraqi Kurdish opposition.

His job is to oversee a new U.S. policy of aiding such opposition groups inside Iraq in a long-term effort to oust the Iraqi leader.

"What we can do on the outside as countries that care about the future of Iraq ... is to give them some hope it can be done," Ricciardone said.

By introducing him to Middle Eastern leaders, Albright hoped to build on a growing sentiment among Arab allies that Hussein must be removed from power.

During Albright's recent tour, U.S. officials said they were pleasantly surprised by the response in Egypt and Saudi Arabia to the new U.S. policy.

"It surprised me the extent to which they see Iraqi President Saddam Hussein as a threat and believe that something has to be done about it," said one U.S. official.

"What we've heard from very high levels is that the only solution is a change of regime."

U.S. diplomats concede that in order for this policy to work, they must enlist the support of Iraq's neighbors.

"Some of the plans involve training opposition groups outside Iraq and then inserting them into Iraq. And if that's the case, you would need to insert them through a neighboring country," said Kenneth Katzman of Congressional Research Service.

But not everyone in the U.S. military believes aiding opposition groups will be effective.

"I will be honest. I don't see an opposition group that has the viability to overthrow Saddam at this point," Marine Corps Gen. Anthony Zinni told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday.

Helping the opposition "if not done properly could be very dangerous," Zinni said.

He raised the prospect of dozens of splinter groups competing for power. "The last thing we need is another rogue regime," Zinni said.

At the U.S. State Department, spokesman James Foley defended the policy, saying the U.S. government was committed to working closely with the Iraqi opposition. But he admitted it was likely to be a very long process.

"I would fully endorse General Zinni's conclusion that we believe that this is not going to be an easy or short-term effort," Foley said.

Correspondent Andrea Koppel, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.