US President Barack Obama on Tuesday nominated career diplomat Robert Ford as the first US ambassador to Syria in five years, seeking to engage a US foe and energize his thwarted Middle East peace push.
Ford will be the first US ambassador to Damascus since Washington recalled its envoy after Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri was killed in February 2005 in a bombing blamed on Syria.
“Ambassador Ford is a highly accomplished diplomat with many years of experience in the Middle East,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
“His appointment represents President Obama’s commitment to use engagement to advance US interests by improving communication with the Syrian government and people,” he said.
“If confirmed by the Senate, Ambassador Ford will engage the Syrian government on how we can enhance relations, while addressing areas of ongoing concern,” Gibbs said.
But the nomination ignited a festering row with Republicans over Obama’s signature policy of seeking to engage US foes.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the top Republican on the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs committee blasted the move as “reckless engagement” and a reward for a US enemy.
“With this nomination, our foreign policy again risks sending the message that it is better to be an intractable enemy than a cooperative, loyal US ally,” she said in a statement.
“Despite the administration’s outreach, Syria continues to sponsor violent extremist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, to undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty and to pursue unconventional weapons and missile capabilities,” she said.
The announcement came on the eve of a visit to Syria by William Burns, a top State Department official, which the administration says will further dialogue with Damascus.
Obama has seen his efforts to engage Iran and broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians founder in his first year in office, and the overture to Syria may be aimed at seeking a new way to ease the deadlock.
Analysts say it is unlikely the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with a priority of ensuring its own survival, will be keen to sever links with Iran or make immediate concessions to Israel.
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