If You Hate on Robert Ford, You Hate The Entire Concept of Diplomacy

I have absolutely no reason to believe that Josh Rogin is wrong about this:

[U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert] Ford's expulsion from Damascus would actually solve a tricky problem for the State Department, which is facing a tough confirmation fight for him this fall. Ford was sent to Damascus last year under a recess appointment, which expires at the end of the year. The only way for Ford to stay in Damascus longer than that is for the Senate to confirm him.

Though Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) reversed himself and now supports keeping Ford in place as ambassador, there are still multiple GOP senators who have no intention of letting Ford's nomination get through the Senate.

Given these dynamics, Ford's unauthorized visit to Jassem represents a win-win scenario for the State Department. On the one hand, it bolsters the State Department's case that Ford is a crucial link to the Syrian revolution. And if he gets thrown out of Syria, State can avoid a messy confirmation fight they are almost sure to lose.

Ponder the sheer insanity here. Ford has become the closest thing to a dissident diplomat that State has. His visit to Hama made him a hero to Syrian democrats and an enemy to Assad in all but declaration. Could this possibly be a better image for American influence?

 With Ford in Damascus, the U.S. gets to have it both ways: a thorn in the side of the Assad regime that the regime has no choice but to treat with. The best thing that the U.S. could do would be to provoke an accreditation battle with Assad and, as Josh suggests, prompt the Syrians to expel him.

But Senate Republicans want to give Assad a way out. And for what? What principle is possibly at stake here? What interest could possibly trump having Ford in Damascus? Any senator who would block Ford's confirmation needs to get asked this. Either they support invading Syria and toppling Assad -- a dumb idea, but at least an alternative -- or they need to shut the fuck up and vote for Ford.

Comments

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Ponder the sheer insanity here. Ford has become the closest thing to a dissident diplomat that State has. His visit to Hama made him a hero to Syrian democrats and an enemy to Assad in all but declaration. Could this possibly be a better image for American influence?

[LisaLHanson]

Who is still opposing his confirmation? Thought they'd all reversed serious opposition.

[fuster]

How's he gonna get expelled anyway?

Making the attempt might cause a bit of a problem for the Syrian regime.

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As a responsible father or husband it is always expected by you.

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I still believe on his principles. Much better to apply them nowadays.