re: "The GOP's new love for Amb. to Syria Robert Ford"

Josh Rogin at The Cable ("Reporting Inside the Foreign Policy Machine") noted where a diplomat did well out of doing good.

Money quote(s):

"Ford has actively engaged with Syrian opposition groups and has put himself at personal risk by attending meetings of opposition leaders and funerals of Syrian activists. These efforts have convinced a large portion of the GOP, which stymied his confirmation last year, that his presence in Damascus is a useful way of confronting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and not a concession to the brutal dictator."

Every few years we see an ambassador like this, who rocks the boat on behalf of the United States or speaks uncomfortable truths to power.

"Ford said he still meets with Syrian Foreign Ministry officials, as has as recently as last week, but only about routine diplomatic business and not about the regime or overall U.S. policy. "There really is not a lot that we need to say to the Syrian government," Ford said. "We don't need to discuss their reform initiative because we don't take it seriously."

Ford said he is definitely not trying to get himself kicked out of Damascus, as some in Washington believe. He is also meeting frequently with Syrians who are "on the fence," and could be turned against the Assad regime, such as business leaders, government employees, Christians, and the Allawite community, which has until recently been loyal to Assad.

Amid discord between various opposition groups inside and outside Syria, Ford's message to the Syrian opposition is that it should unite and put together a plan for transitioning to a new government. "Otherwise it's just going to be very bloody and bad later," he said. He is also urging them to keep the protests peaceful in order to maintain international sympathy.

There has been some discussion in Washington about why Ford doesn't announce his activities in Syria or post about them on his Facebook page, which he has used to criticize the Assad regime. Ford said his activities are well-covered in Syria and around the region by the Arab language press.

"I'm thinking much more about my audience here in Syria; I'm not so worried about the Washington repercussions," he said."

9/23

re: "A mixed bag for the New Year"

Dr. Jerry Pournelle at Chaos Manor ("The Original Blog and Daybook") provided a historical snippet:

"The first Congress declined to appoint anyone from the US an ‘ambassador’ on the grounds that this was a royal title; the lack of that title meant that the US representative was always last in precedence."

So our representatives abroad were credentialed as "ministers," which certainly derogated their status and precedence in protocol.

We still have "ministers," but in general they work for ambassadors.


1/3

re: "Richard Holbrooke: A Life in Diplomacy"

Gregory at Belgravia Dispatch ("International Politics & Diplomacy") came out of blog-silence to note the passing of Amb. Holbrooke.

Money quote(s):

"I can almost picture the scene where, turning blush red, he would have very much been wanting to make just one last point to Hillary Clinton on the 7th Floor at the State Department, with her instead wisely ordering him into the elevator to get rushed to the hospital. A passionate and tireless advocate, he blocked and tackled to the very end, in service to his country."

A fellow could have a lot worse things than that said about him.

R.I.P.

re: "Ambassador Philip Murphy: "I'm a big boy ....the buck stops with me..." "

Domani Spero at Diplopundit ("Just one obsessive observer, diplomatic watcher, opinionator and noodle newsmaker monitoring the goings on at Foggy Bottom and the worldwide available universe") shares an example of a leader taking responsibility.

It's very refreshing.

This is the sort of thing that causes FSOs to take jobs in really awful places, just for that chance to work for a great boss.

TTOI - Obama nominates Indian-American fundraiser as Belize envoy - Indians Abroad - World

From my archive of press clippings:

The Times of India


Obama nominates Indian-American fundraiser as Belize envoy

PTI 12 June 2009, 08:11am IST

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama on Friday nominated one of his eminent Indian-American bundler, Vinai K Thummalapally as the next American Ambassador to Belize.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"Along with Thummalapally, Obama nominated two other bundlers with plum diplomatic posts, according to a White House announcement. They are former Virginia Lt Gov Don Beyer, a successful auto dealer who raised at least half a million dollars for his campaign, to be ambassador to Switzerland and Lichtenstein. Howard Gutman, a lawyer at Williams and Connolly who also raised more than $500,000, has been nominated to serve as ambassador to Belgium."

JG - LETTER OF THE DAY - Right to be employed just because?

Jamaica Gleaner

LETTER OF THE DAY - Right to be employed just because?


Published: Wednesday April 1, 2009

The Editor,


Sir:


I could not help but be amused while I watched TVJ's newscast on Monday night and saw the report about the many residents of St Ann turning up at the Gran Bahía Príncipe hotel demanding jobs, simply because, by coincidence, they lived in proximity to the hotel. When is proximity a cardinal criterion for employment?

Read the whole letter here.

Snippet(s):

"Whether or not their accusation is true about the hotel employing foreign workers, it is something that should be analysed, but I will take this from another angle. Locals have poor work ethic: usually they are not punctual and bring in unions to shut down the site when unreasonable demands are not satisfied. They lock down the site and demand more pay, simply because they have 10 children to go to school and their pay is not sufficient to meet their demands. They are often of the mistaken view that their financial needs must determine what they are paid rather than being paid what the job is worth."

&

"Jamaica must be the most enviable place on Earth. Here, we don't apply for jobs, we simply demand them, not because we have the qualifications and skill, but simply because of proximity. So, persons living on East Kings House Road should follow by demanding a job at Jamaica House or King's House and those near Fletchers Land should demand a seat in Gordon House. I've got an idea. Tomorrow morning bright and early, I will wake my neighbours and we will all go by the United States (US) Embassy and demand a job in front of TVJ's cameras and look out for our member of parliament to come join us and take up our cause with the US ambassador."

_____

I am etc.,
Garfield Whyte
Attorney-at-law
Kingston 6

S&S - Obama nominates ambassadors to Iraq and Afghanistan

Stars and Stripes



Obama nominates ambassadors to Iraq and Afghanistan

Stars and Stripes


European edition, Friday, March 13, 2009


WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Wednesday nominated Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry as ambassador to Afghanistan and Christopher Hill as ambassador to Iraq.

Read the whole article here.

S&S - Career military officer eyed for Afghan post

Stars and Stripes

Career military officer eyed for Afghan post

Stars and Stripes Mideast edition, Sunday, February 1, 2009

NEW YORK — A career military officer who is set to retire soon from the Army has been tapped to become the next U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, The New York Times reported Friday.
Lt. Gen. Karl W. Eikenberry has served in Afghanistan twice, including an 18-month tour that ended in 2007, and knows the issues facing the troubled country and the players well.

Read the whole article here.