Obama’s pick for ambassador to Syria promises ’straight talk’ about support of terror groups
By Barry Schweid, APTuesday, March 16, 2010
Nominee pledges ’straight talk’ with Syria
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s choice to be the first U.S. ambassador to Syria in five years went before a Senate committee Tuesday and said Syria remains a supporter of terrorist groups.
Robert Ford told his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations panel that as ambassador he will deliver “unfiltered straight talk” to Damascus about its support of terror groups like Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah.
President George W. Bush’s administration withdrew a full-time ambassador from Syria in 2005 following terrorism accusations and to protest the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, killed in a Beirut truck bombing that his supporters blamed on Syria. Syria denied involvement.
