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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: ambassador

ambassador stories: 28 news summaries

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US Ambassador Returns to Venezuela 

Diplomat back in Caracas 9 months after Chavez booted him

Jul 2, 09 7:51 AM CDT
(Newser) - The American ambassador to Venezuela is back in Caracas 9 months after Hugo Chavez sent him packing, AFP reports. The diplomat was expelled after Chavez alleged that America was trying to undermine Bolivia's leftist government, one of his key allies. Venezuela's ambassador to the US, who was booted out soon... More »

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diplomacy • Venezuela • Bolivia • Hugo Chávez • ambassador

US Sending Ambassador to Syria After 4-Year Absence

Obama aims to boost US presence after 4-year absence

Jun 24, 09 2:19 AM CDT
(Newser) - An American ambassador will soon be on the road to Damascus for the first time since early 2005, the Washington Post reports. The Obama administration plans to send an envoy to Syria as part of efforts to reengage with the influential Arab country. The move, which follows recent high-level diplomatic... More »

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Syria • diplomacy • diplomat • ambassador

OPINION

Ambassadors: Rich People in Useless Jobs

If posts are just plums for political donors,
why have them?

May 29, 09 2:11 PM CDT
(Newser) - Barack Obama opted for politics as usual in his ambassador appointments yesterday, writes David Rothkopf for ForeignPolicy. Like recent predecessors, Obama turned to deep-pocketed campaign donors; hence Japan, the world’s second-largest economy, will deal with a tech lawyer whose sole qualification seems to have been his ability to raise... More »

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Barack Obama • diplomacy • Japan • France • State Department • ambassador • political appointee • President Obama

Obama Picks Theology Prof as Vatican Envoy

High-profile Cuban native would be first Hispanic to hold post

May 28, 09 11:57 AM CDT
(Newser) - President Obama has nominated a Minnesota theologian as his Vatican ambassador, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Miguel Diaz, 45, a Cuban-born professor who would be the first Hispanic US envoy to the Vatican, was an Obama campaign adviser. He was chosen after the Vatican reportedly rejected a series of possible... More »

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Vatican • ambassador • Obama administration • President Obama • Miguel Diaz

(Newser) - George W. Bush’s ambassador to Afghanistan is considering taking a powerful, unelected position in Hamid Karzai’s government, the New York Times reports. Zalmay Khalilzad, an Afghan-born US citizen, had considered running against Karzai for president, but missed the filing deadline. Senior American and Afghan officials say Karzai... More »

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Afghanistan • Bush administration • Hamid Karzai • Zalmay Khalilzad • ambassador

analysis

Chinese Press Cautiously Approves of Huntsman

He's 'no panda-hugger,' but he does speak Chinese

May 18, 09 2:01 PM CDT
(Newser) - After President Obama nominated Utah’s Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr as his ambassador to China, New Yorker correspondent Evan Osnos takes the pulse of the Chinese press. He found three matters of note:
  • The press approved Obama’s personal announcement of Huntsman’s new post: It shows Obama
... More »

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China • Utah • Jon Huntsman • governor • ambassador • President Obama • Chinese press

(Newser) - Barack Obama will name Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., an up-and-coming Republican star, as his ambassador to China this morning, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. Huntsman will resign as governor to take the post. The popular Mormon speaks Mandarin Chinese, has an adopted Chinese daughter, along with six other children,... More »

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China • Barack Obama • Republican • Utah • Jon Huntsman • ambassador

(Newser) - The Senate tonight approved Christopher Hill to be the next ambassador to Iraq, overriding the strong objections of John McCain, the Hill reports. McCain argued that Hill doesn't have enough Mideast experience, and he also criticized his work as ambassador to North Korea. Despite the opposition, the Senate approved the... More »

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Iraq • John McCain • North Korea • Christopher Hill • ambassador

Israel Yanks Ambassador
to Switzerland

Outraged as Iranian, Swiss leaders meet at UN racism conference

Apr 20, 09 7:51 AM CDT
(Newser) - Israel has angrily called home its ambassador to Switzerland after that country's president met with Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ahead of a politically charged UN meeting on racism that began today, the Times of London reports. On Israel's Holocaust Memorial Day, Switzerland’s “guest of honor is a racist... More »

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Iran • Israel • United Nations • Australia • Mahmoud Ahmadinejad • Germany • Poland • Holocaust • Canada • Italy • Switzerland • United States • Benjamin Netanyahu • Netherlands • New Zealand • racism • boycott • ambassador • Ban Ki-Moon

ANALYSIS

 In Jarrett, 
 Wall St. Finds 
 Direct Line  
 to Obama 

Firms salute efforts of White House 'consigliere'

Apr 16, 09 10:55 AM CDT
(Newser) - Valerie Jarrett wears many hats in the White House: “If there’s a consigliere, it’s Valerie,” says the head of President Obama’s transition team. Lately, however, the longtime family friend has chiefly been Obama’s ambassador to big business, Bloomberg reports. She “picks the brains”... More »

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Wall Street • White House • business • adviser • ambassador • Valerie Jarrett • big business • Obama administration • President Obama

 Vatican Rules Out 
 Kennedy as 
 Ambassador 

Caroline rejected over abortion stance, insiders say

Apr 12, 09 9:01 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Vatican has rejected the idea of Caroline Kennedy as US ambassador because she supports abortion rights and stem-cell research, the Daily Telegraph reports. Other Roman Catholics President Obama had sought to appoint have hit the same wall, Vatican insiders told an Italian paper. The controversy threatens to cast a... More »

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stem cell research • abortion rights • Vatican • Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg • ambassador • pro-life • President Obama

Kennedy Is 'Mistake' for Vatican Post: Ex-Envoy Flynn

She's a rumored candidate for ambassador to the Holy See

Apr 9, 09 12:00 PM CDT
(Newser) - Caroline Kennedy can’t seem to catch a break. The onetime Senate aspirant is being called a “mistake” for ambassador to the Vatican. “It’s essential that the person who represents us to the Holy See be a person who has pro-life values,” Raymond Flynn, who held... More »

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Catholic Church • Vatican • Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg • ambassador • Obama administration • Raymond Flynn

(AP) - President Barack Obama has tapped Dan Rooney, the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, to be US ambassador to Ireland. Rooney, 76, is a lifelong Republican who endorsed Obama during Pennsylvania's contentious Democratic primary and campaigned for him ahead of the general election. A good year continues for Rooney, whose team... More »

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diplomacy • Pittsburgh Steelers • Pennsylvania • Ireland • ambassador • Obama administration • President Obama • Dan Rooney

Critics Blast Obama's Zinni Flip-Flop

They call yanking of
Iraq ambassador post sign of transition chaos

Feb 6, 09 10:45 AM CST
(Newser) - Remember those fat times, back in December, when competence and seamless coordination were back in town? Oh well. Joining the parade of minor appointment-related slip-ups is the apparent bait-and-switch pulled on retired Gen. Anthony Zinni, reports Politico. Zinni was told he had the job of Iraq ambassador—then the rug... More »

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Iraq • Joe Biden • Saudi Arabia • ambassador • Obama administration • Anthony Zinni

Crocker Cautions Against
Abrupt Iraq Withdrawal

Ambassador cautions that al-Qaeda will take advantage of power vacuum

Jan 22, 09 4:14 PM CST
(Newser) - The US ambassador to Iraq warned today against an abrupt troop withdrawal, saying it would invite foreign fighters, CNN reports. If we “decide suddenly we’re done, they would certainly work to use space that opened up,” Ryan Crocker said of al-Qaeda. Crocker, who will step down shortly,... More »

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Iraq • Ryan Crocker • troop withdrawal • al-Qaeda • ambassador • Obama administration • insurgency • President Obama

Ambassador Anna? Rumors Have Vogue Ed Paris-Bound

Wintour rumored new French ambassador

Jan 9, 09 10:25 AM CST
(Newser) - Rumors are flying that Vogue editor Anna Wintour will become ambassador to France, the New York Post reports. Wintour's rumored replacement at the pinnacle of fashion journalism would be Carine Roitfeld, editor of French Vogue. But is the scuttlebutt, which appears to have originated with the Fashion Week Daily website,... More »

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Barack Obama • fashion • politics • France • magazine • Vogue • editor • Anna Wintour • ambassador • President Obama • Carine Roitfeld • wowOwow

US Inaugurates $700M Embassy in Baghdad

Buildings symbolize desire to 'continue the tradition of friendship'

Jan 5, 09 9:05 AM CST
(AP) - The United States inaugurated its largest embassy yet in the heart of the Green Zone today, officially opening the fortress-like compound that was intended to stand as a testament to America's commitment to Iraq. Addressing an inauguration ceremony under tight security, Ambassador Ryan Crocker said the $700 million embassy was... More »

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Iraq • United States • US embassy in Baghdad • US Embassy in Iraq • inauguration • ambassador

(Newser) - Douglas Kmiec’s possible appointment by Barack Obama as ambassador to the Vatican shouldn’t raise any hackles and—pro-lifers' views to the contrary—would not be an insult to the church, Henry Farrell writes on Crooked Timber. “Kmiec continues to state his opposition to abortion,” Farrell writes.... More »

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Barack Obama • Pope Benedict XVI • Vatican • Doug Kmiec • transition • ambassador • Election 2008 • President Obama • Douglas Kmiec

A Very Different Rice to be UN Ambassador

Obama will raise post to Cabinet, appoint anti-genocide crusader

Dec 1, 08 9:06 AM CST
(Newser) - Barack Obama will name Susan Rice as his UN ambassador when he unveils his foreign policy team today, the New York Times reports. Rice (no relation to Condoleezza), was an assistant secretary of state under Bill Clinton, but has been an Obama adviser since the beginning. She’s an... More »

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Barack Obama • United Nations • genocide • foreign policy • ambassador • Susan Rice • President Obama

Diplomats See Risk in Handing Posts to Obama Pals

Friends, big donors often get cushy ambassadorships, to chagrin of lifers

Nov 14, 08 3:00 PM CST
(Newser) - Could Barack Obama make Oprah Winfrey an ambassador? It’s an all-too-plausible scenario, the Chicago Tribune reports, assuming Winfrey was willing to leave her TV career. Presidents typically give out roughly a third of the 200 ambassadorships to friends and political allies, and, in a first, the American Academy of... More »

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diplomacy • State Department • Oprah Winfrey • diplomat • ambassador • political appointee • President Obama

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