Senate unanimously approves Ford as U.S. ambassador to Syria

[struggle4progress]

By Jill Dougherty, CNN Foreign Affairs Correspondent
updated 1:15 PM EST, Tue October 4, 2011

Washington (CNN) -- Overcoming initial opposition to his appointment, Robert Ford has won unanimous confirmation by the Senate as U.S. ambassador to Syria.

President Barack Obama named Ford to the post at the end of last year as an interim appointment over Republican protest. Some Republicans argued that sending an ambassador back to Syria after a five-year absence would send the message that the United States was conferring legitimacy on the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

At his post in Syria, however, Ford has been an active supporter of the Syrian opposition and a vocal critic of the regime's brutal crackdown on protests. He has traveled to cities in Syria where the opposition has been under attack. He himself has been pelted with tomatoes and followed by pro-government supporters ...

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/04/politics/senate-syrian-ambassador/

[karynnj]

1. This may be the biggest win for Obama that few will hear about

From the moment that there were signs that Obama would restore the embassy to Syria, he was attacked because he broke the Bush policy of not having an ambassador there. When the violence in Syria increased, the right and especially the neo con right blasted Obama (and John Kerry, who was instrumental here) for taking a weaker position than Bush did.

Obama is incredibly fortunate in Ford, who has been incredibly courageous in a very difficult time.

That they now agreed unanimously to allow the confirmation is a big victory.

Kerry called it a "hard message for Assad" and said:
"Ford "embodies American solidarity with the Syrian people. Despite even being physically attacked and assaulted by the regime's goons, Ford continues courageously to visit cities under military siege and speak truth to power,"

http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=318205#ixzz1ZpOPokty

[struggle4progress]

2. US 'reads riot act to Syria' over attack

US 'reads riot act to Syria' over attack
From: AP
October 04, 2011 2:38PM

... State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland says the Syrian ambassador was summoned to the department after Thursday's assault on American Robert Ford ...

Ford was not injured in the incident outside the office of a Syrian opposition figure he was meeting, but several armored embassy vehicles were damaged. Nuland said the United States is demanding compensation.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/us-reads-riot-act-to-syria-over-attack/story-e6frg6so-1226158164954

[karynnj]

3. Washington Post coverage

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/national-security/kerry-senate-approval-of-us-ambassador-to-syria-sends-tough-message-to-assad-government/2011/10/04/gIQAroeFLL_story.html

What is most interesting is what this article does not really speak of. The only inferred reference to the Republican attacks against having an ambassador to Syria is that they mention he was recess appointed in January. This, then, completely ignores that the Republicans switched their position a full 180 degrees.

Kerry does a great job praising Ford's exemplary actions for the US.