Obama nominates Deborah K. Jones new Libya envoy
U.S. President Barack Obama (L) makes a statement on Libya with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (R) at the White House in Washington, DC, Feb. 23, 2011.
President Barack Obama on Wednesday nominated a longserving Middle East diplomat as the new US ambassador to Libya after the former envoy was killed in a September attack, said the Associated Press.
Former Libya ambassador Chris Stevens and three others were killed in an attack at the US consulate in Benghazi on Septemer 11, 2012 — the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the United States.
The government's response to the Benghazi attack has been criticized, so the person chosen to replace Stevens will presumbably come under close scrutiny.
Deborah K. Jones, Obama's nominee, has extensive diplomatic experience, having served in Syria, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Ethiopia, according to AP.
Jones is currently working at Washington's Middle East Institute as a Scholar-in-Residence, reported USA Today.
If approved by the Senate, Jones would direct the US diplomatic mission in Libya's Tripoli.