NO TURKEY IN SYRIA
U.S. Ambassador Robert Ford was looking forward to returning to Syria to celebrate Thanksgiving with his staff at the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, but the State Department this week delayed his departure from Washington.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland explained that the ongoing unrest in Syria makes it too dangerous for Mr. Ford to return.
The ambassador, who had denounced Syrian President Bashar Assad for killing unarmed protesters, was recalled to Washington last month because of threats against his life.
“Our issue here is to ensure that when he goes back, not only is he safe … but also that he can be effective in getting out and meeting with people,” Ms. Nuland said.
Mr. Ford had said he wanted to be back in Syria in time for turkey dinner with his staff, but Ms. Nuland said he “will now be eating the turkey in the United States.”
&bull Call Embassy Row at 202/636-3297 or email jmorrison@washingtontimes.com. The column is published on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
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James Morrison joined the The Washington Times in 1983 as a local reporter covering Alexandria, Va. A year later, he was assigned to open a Times bureau in Canada. From 1987 to 1989, Mr. Morrison was The Washington Times reporter in London, covering Britain, Western Europe and NATO issues. After returning to Washington, he served as an assistant foreign editor ...
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