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Biden nominates a career diplomat to serve in Thailand


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The US flag is reflected on the Washington Monument in Washington, DC, on March 1, 2022, ahead of US President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address from the US Capitol (rear). (Photo by Stefani Reynolds / AFP)

 

The White House announced today (Saturday) that Robert F. Godec, a career diplomat, is to be the next ambassador to Thailand.

 

The position has been vacant for over a year, after Michael DeSombre, who was appointed by the Trump administration, stepped down in January 2021. Michael Heath, chargés d’affaires at the US Embassy, has served as acting ambassador since then.

 

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Godec currently serves as Senior Coordinator for Afghanistan in the US bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration at the State Department. Previously, he served as Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs. Prior to that, he served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of African Affairs.

 

Godec was also Deputy Commandant and International Affairs Advisor at the National War College. He was U.S. Ambassador to Kenya from 2013 to 2019. Godec was also chargés d’affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy Nairobi, Kenya in 2012.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/biden-nominates-a-career-diplomat-to-serve-in-thailand/

 

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Posted
3 hours ago, webfact said:

The White House announced today (Saturday) that Robert F. Godec, a career diplomat, is to be the next ambassador to Thailand.

A career diplomat... another yes man?

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Posted
8 minutes ago, placeholder said:

You would honestly expect an ambassador to Thailand to have direct access to the President's ear? How many ambassadors do you think could actually enjoy the privilege of bypassing the Secretary of State? Any?  Yours is the kind of comment one would expect from someone who has no understanding of what it takes to run a large organization..

....and then one could truly ask themselves the real reasoning and placement for diplomatic missions. 

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Posted
15 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Wonder if Thailand is a step up or down from Kenya...

I'd say it's a step up, but both don't sound like first-rate postings. ????

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Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, Caldera said:

I'd say it's a step up, but both don't sound like first-rate postings. ????

The U.S. Mission in Thailand is one of the largest in the world and, in addition to its Embassy offices, is comprised of several United States government agencies:

 

Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS)
Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS)
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA)
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
The Foreign Agricultural Services (FAS)
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
International Law Enforcement Academy Bangkok (ILEA)
Joint US Military Advisory Group Thailand (JUSMAGTHAI)
Orderly Departure Program
Peace Corps Thailand
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
U.S. Commercial Service
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Voice of America

https://th.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulate/bangkok/us-agencies/

 

 

Edited by jerrymahoney
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Posted
1 hour ago, Caldera said:

I'd say it's a step up, but both don't sound like first-rate postings. ????

For some it was just a stopover on the way to CIA

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Posted
1 hour ago, bangkokbonecollector said:

Seems like a good choice for what is fast becoming a very important region and country.

You mean the US? They used to be. Sort of on the way out now.

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Posted
19 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

Those are just tenants in the Embassy buildings.

Yeah, but they're treated so badly -- their offices don't even have windows.

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