Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is right. “Obama names first US ambassador to Syria in five years,” by Stephen Collinson for AFP, February 16 (thanks to Chad):
WASHINGTON (AFP) – President Barack Obama 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 Lebanon’s former 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,” said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs.
“His appointment represents President Obama’s commitment to use engagement to advance US interests by improving communication with the Syrian government and people.
“If confirmed by the Senate, Ambassador Ford will engage the Syrian government on how we can enhance relations, while addressing areas of ongoing concern.”
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.”…