The Beirut Daily Star, which a couple of months ago expressed dismay that the U.S. had not appointed a successor for the outgoing ambassador, David Hale, reported relevant good news on October 8. Since I also was disturbed by the apparent apathy toward Lebanon at this highly critical period of time, I must report the evidence that the State Department has not abandoned Lebanon.
A former ambassador in Lebanon, 1996-1998, Richard Jones is stepping in to run the embassy temporarily after David Hale leaves on October 17 for his new assignment in Pakistan. Jones will remain until Elizabeth Richard is confirmed as the new ambassador. She is expected to be approved by the U.S. Congress and to arrive in Lebanon at the beginning of the new year.
(This information agrees with the unconfirmed report that I passed on a couple of weeks ago. However, I withheld a part of the rumor, the name of the woman ambassador, which turned out to be wrong anyway)
Ms. Richard, currently deputy assistant secretary of state in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, is an experienced career diplomat. She has served as the Deputy Chief of Mission in Yemen, 2010-2013, and has been the political officer in the American embassy in Rome. She holds law degrees from Southern Methodist University and is a graduate of the National War College in Washington, D.C. and the NATO Defense College in Rome.
Ambassador Hale has already stayed in Lebanon longer than intended in order to prevent even a temporary vacancy, and the Beirut Daily Star quoted his statement that the U.S. is “focused every day…on how we can best support Lebanon’s people and institutions to ensure that Lebanon remains stable, secure, sovereign and free from foreign entanglements.”
I believe that all of this adds up to a clear demonstration of American awareness that Lebanon is in a crucial position in the chaotic Middle East and needs our support.