3 Jan 2011

New US ambassador not liked in Congress

12:35 pm on 3 January 2011

President Barack Obama has appointed a new US ambassador to Syria, career diplomat Robert Stephen Ford.

The administration says having a voice in Damascus is vital despite a somewhat hostile relationship with Syria.

The nomination would ordinarily be expected to move through the Senate - which under the Constitution has the right to reject the president's nominations - without controversy.

But Ford's nomination appears to have foundered amid concerns that Damascus may have sought to transfer Scud missiles to Hizbollah in Lebanon.

But CNN reports the appointment is not sitting well with Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Republican who will chair the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives after Congress returns from recess later in January.

Making underserved concessions to Syria tells the regime in Damascus that it can continue to pursue its dangerous agenda and not face any consequences from the United States, she said in a statement.

The White House also announced recess appointments of two other career diplomats: Francis Frank Ricciardone as ambassador to Turkey and Matthew Bryza as ambassador to Azerbaijan.