New face, old face

Thursday, 21st May 2009

It looks as if those of us who assumed the Obama administration would take a more enlightened approach to choosing its ambassador to the UK will have to think again. The Telegraph supplies some background on Louis Susman:

He has little foreign policy experience but has been nicknamed the Vacuum Cleaner in his native Chicago - Mr Obama’s power base - because of his ability to hoover up campaign cash... The appointment, which is understood to have been accepted by the Queen, will raise fresh questions about Mr Obama’s commitment to the “special relationship”.

And the Guardian adds this:

The appointments will disappoint former US career diplomats who have been pressing Obama to end the practice, especially since he promised to offer more of the top jobs to diplomats... Ronald Neumann, a former career diplomat and ambassador and president of the Washington-based American Academy of Diplomacy, wrote to Obama last year, saying ambassadors should have had experience of the country they are being appointed to. Neumann said today: "You would think with our most important ally we might occasionally send someone with some experience."