Obama announces nominee to become ambassador to Damascus, first for US since 2005
By APTuesday, February 16, 2010
Obama announces ambassador nominee to Damascus
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he will nominate a career diplomat to become the United States’ first ambassador to Syria since 2005, signaling a thaw that the U.S. administration has sought in its first year.
Obama on Tuesday announced Robert Ford would be the United States’ ambassador to Damascus. He is currently the deputy chief of mission at the embassy in Baghdad. He previously was ambassador to Algeria and has worked in Bahrain and Egypt.
Washington withdrew its last ambassador to Damascus in 2005 following the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, which many blamed on Syria. Syria has denied involvement.
Obama has tried to rebuild U.S. ties to the region. His foreign policy team said last summer they would send an ambassador to Damascus.
