US ambassador to remain in post until term completed: US Embassy Bangkok

[webfact]

POLITICS
US ambassador to remain in post until term completed: US Embassy


File photo : Kenney

BANGKOK: -- US Ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney on Monday dismissed as untrue rumours that she was to be reassigned to South Korea.

Kenney was answering questions posted to her Twitter account, @KristieKenney, regarding unconfirmed reports that she would send be completing her term in Thailand soon and would be replaced James Zumwalt, deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific affairs.

Rumours had gone viral on the social network, some of them saying she was being abruptly removed from the position due to her alleged intervention in the political tensions in Thailand.

Antigovernment protesters earlier rallied in front of the embassy and called on the US government to transfer her as she always sided with the government.

Meanwhile the US embassy tweeted, "US ambassador Kristie Kenney won't be leaving her posting until later this year and remains very focused on her responsibilities in Thailand."

The next US ambassador to Thailand has not yet been nominated by the US President or confirmed by the US Senate, the tweet read.


-- The Nation 2014-02-24

[Sheryl]

Ambassadors are representatives of their governments, not policy makers. Whatever positions she is taking, they are on instructions from Washington, not a personal initiative by her.

[kikoman]

The rich elite establishment believe everyone should do their bidding , The US government is not the EC or Courts, they belong to a Democratic government that knows how to abide by the Rule of Law, in the US your baht isn't worth more than a farmers Baht!

Cheers

Edited February 24, 2014 by kikoman

[heybruce]

This is clearly a file photo, and not a good one. People who are reading more into it than that are fools.

[Thai at Heart]

Belief she interfered?

Everyone needs a bogeyman I guess.....

[eeworldwide]

The US Ambassador Kristie Kenney is a remarkable woman, who has experienced a not insignificant amount of heartache and pain in her life to date. She has been an exemplary ambassador for the US, has always encouraged Thai/US relations, made a huge effort to socialise, has learnt Thai to the point that she is pretty fluent and can communicate well with those in the public eye in Thailand, and those day to day people she meets at regular functions. She has a great sense of humour, performs well on camera and is always game for a laugh.

She initiates and supports new and philanthropic artistic endeavours and is not afraid to get her hands dirty.

She is someone who has truly endeavoured to integrate as much as possible into Thai society and has the not inconsiderable task of representing one of the worlds superpowers here in Thailand, at a very difficult stage in history.

Its oh so easy to bash others from the comfort of our laptops and devices, isn't it? But surely we should take the good with the bad, and not be too hasty to be judgemental, and take into consideration a person's good points, rather than focussing on the negative.

I suspect that those of us in relationships would expect our other halves to do this with us?

The endless torrent of bitching on Thai Visa Forum is really rather tiring and to be quite frank - boring.

Edited February 24, 2014 by eeworldwide

[Pib]

I'm sure all the negative posters are handsome/beautiful and extremely intelligent people....and have also been blessed with the gift of being able to judge people based solely on a photo.

[bigbamboo]

The rich elite establishment believe everyone should do their bidding , The US government is not the EC or Courts, they belong to a Democratic government that knows how to abide by the Rule of Law, in the US your baht isn't worth more than a farmers Baht!

Cheers

Don't you ever give it a rest?

You seem to forget exactly which rich elites are dictating just now.

[webfact]

US Embassy denies rumor of Ambassador Kenney’s transfer to Korea

BANGKOK, 24 February 2014 (NNT) – The speculation over the transfer of US Ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney to South Korea has been disregarded as false by the US Embassy.

In a phone interview, Spokesman for the US Embassy in Bangkok Walter Braunohler confirmed that Mrs Kenney would continue her duty as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand. The statement was issued in the wake of a rumor in the social media that the ambassador had been moved to the Republic of Korea. The rumor also cited Mr James Zumwalt, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, as the incoming ambassador.

Mr Braunohler admitted that Mrs Kenney, who became Ambassador to Thailand in January 2011, had already reached the usual 3-year ambassadorial term. However, he said no candidates had been proposed by President Barack Obama to the Senate as her replacement.

In her Twitter comment regarding the rumor, Mrs Kenney said “Someone had a really good imagination.”


-- NNT 2014-02-24

[andrewrooney]

It's a bad photo, granted, but she seems to be a decent enough ambassador. I've seen her on Thai TV a couple times and she's always come off really well, speaks enough Thai to joke around with the hosts, etc. Granted these are all fluff pieces but what more is required of an ambassador, really?

[Professor Kevin]

Didn't the last US Ambassador high tail it out of town when the wikileaks revelations about Thai politics?

[heybruce]

Didn't the last US Ambassador high tail it out of town when the wikileaks revelations about Thai politics?

No, he left after his 17 year old daughter died in a accident in New York.

[Donnie Brasco]

Didn't the last US Ambassador high tail it out of town when the wikileaks revelations about Thai politics?

No, he left after his 17 year old daughter died in a accident in New York.

Do you execute these misdirections of yours on your own initiative ? Out of ignorance ?

Or do you actually travel on one of those whiz-bang Disneyland passports ?

"Sometimes, 'fuggedabowdit' just means fuggedabowdit."

[kikoman]

The rich elite establishment believe everyone should do their bidding , The US government is not the EC or Courts, they belong to a Democratic government that knows how to abide by the Rule of Law, in the US your baht isn't worth more than a farmers Baht!

Cheers

Don't you ever give it a rest?

You seem to forget exactly which rich elites are dictating just now.

Hey you do not have to read my post, makes no difference to me, there is an ignore function all you have to do is put me on that list Presto, I am still here but you can't see me!

Cheers

[heybruce]

Didn't the last US Ambassador high tail it out of town when the wikileaks revelations about Thai politics?

No, he left after his 17 year old daughter died in a accident in New York.

Do you execute these misdirections of yours on your own initiative ? Out of ignorance ?

Or do you actually travel on one of those whiz-bang Disneyland passports ?

"Sometimes, 'fuggedabowdit' just means fuggedabowdit."

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nicole-john-daughter-ambassador-thailand-eric-john-posts-blur-plunge-article-1.200740

[sbk]

Whole load of off topic, petty and rather sad posts removed.

[quagmirefg]

Only nieve think that US Ambasadors are just transfered out because some persons or groups in a particular Country may imply improper medling or comments that they try to "Spin" or don't agree with.

US Ambasadors speak only on behalf of the Government of the USA and don't go out on their own and make personal public comments about Foreign Affairs.

As this article says; US Ambasadors are Nominated and assignd by the President of the USA and confirmed by the US Senate.

The Ambasador would not be arbitrarily reassigned.

[Publicus]

Amb Kenney's three year appointment is already completed officially yet Prez Obama has not nominated any potential successor to the Senate for confirmation hearings. The current insurrection and its chaos pretty much have determined that Amb Kenney will be around for a while yet, given her familiarity with present and future currents in Thailand. A U.S. ambassador once formally appointed always serves at the pleasure of the president who is not about to have the position in Thailand become vacant for any period of time.

This is Amb Kenney's fourth consecutive ambassador assignment, each time as the first female U.S. ambassador to the respective country, to include the Philippines when Philippine troops with US "advisors" cleared out some rat's nests of religious fundamentalist extremists.

In Thailand the yellows and PCAD absolutely dislike her.

It's of course normal and natural for next assignment talk to occur as an ambassador's term draws to a close, to include a successor. It is significant that the successor chatter includes the present deputy assistant secretary of state for the Asia-Pacific in Washington because it's a much higher pay grade with much greater diplomatic experience in regional capitals than any serving ambassador would have.

Altogether, Amb Kenney is regarded as a strong representative of US "soft" power throughout the region, which may make a possible future posting to S Korea unlikely.

Edited February 24, 2014 by Publicus

[sbk]

Professor Kevin, your post has been removed. Please refrain from sidetracking this thread with your theories that have nothing to do with this particular Ambassador, thanks

[JoeThePoster]

Well, if she does go, she may come back as US ambassador to North Thailand in the near future.

[mamypoko]

Well, if she does go, she may come back as US ambassador to North Thailand in the near future.

Go to sleep knowing that everyone thinks your so cool.

(I respect your broken record stick2itveness)

I tell my wife I am the Man...and even I begin to believe it.

Keep on keeping on, Red Joe

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

For all the BS floating back and forth in this thread, and the lead of the OP being the denial of Kenney being moved to South Korea, the OP nonetheless included the following:

Meanwhile the US embassy tweeted, "US ambassador Kristie Kenney won't be leaving her posting until later this year

So basically, they're confirming she'll be remaining in Thailand for less than a coming year -- subject of course to the vagaries of political winds.

I think it's pretty safe to assume anytime the U.S. foreign service knows one of their Ambassadors is going to be finishing their term, the vetting and consideration of a replacement starts well ahead of time.

[h90]

Ambassadors are representatives of their governments, not policy makers. Whatever positions she is taking, they are on instructions from Washington, not a personal initiative by her.

Well replaced (if true or if circulated to discredit her) would mean that she did to much personal initiative herself instead of following Washington instructions.

(Or Washington instructed wrong and let it look as it was only her).

But I doubt it.....seems more like a rumor....

[heybruce]

Ambassadors are representatives of their governments, not policy makers. Whatever positions she is taking, they are on instructions from Washington, not a personal initiative by her.

Well replaced (if true or if circulated to discredit her) would mean that she did to much personal initiative herself instead of following Washington instructions.

(Or Washington instructed wrong and let it look as it was only her).

But I doubt it.....seems more like a rumor....

Did you read post #18 by Publicus? The ambassador has finished her three year appointment and is temporarily staying on to have an experienced hand during the turmoil.

U.S. ambassador appointments are never permanent. I assume the same is true for most other countries.

[Dogmatix]

Her predecessor was replaced early wasn't he? Something about arranging a meeting with Khunying Potjaman or someone for a visiting bigwig from the State Department when Abhisit was PM.

[heybruce]

Her predecessor was replaced early wasn't he? Something about arranging a meeting with Khunying Potjaman or someone for a visiting bigwig from the State Department when Abhisit was PM.

If you check here you'll see he served a little under three years, which seems to be the standard tour.

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/relation/175usth/timeline-of-u/american-ambassadors-to-thailand.html

I haven't found anything that indicates a scandal or diplomatic problem leading to an early departure. If you find evidence to the contrary I'm sure there are many who would like to read about it.

[Nautilus05]

Why would Thai protesters ever believe they can get the US ambassador replaced? The US doesn't even give a shit about its own citizens, let alone some protesters in Thailand.

[tomyummer]

Didn't the last US Ambassador high tail it out of town when the wikileaks revelations about Thai politics?

It was probably the breakfast meeting he tried to set up between parties last time while playing sandbox monitor.

[tomyummer]

A bit showy with the cooking shows and singing gospel music at charities (last night), but at least she is one of the few ambassadors I know that actually gives a damn enough to try to learn the local language.

[rotary]

The sooner she leaves the better, in fact the sooner Obama leaves the better. I am sure both of these are meddling in things they should not. Look at that snooping thing with Germany. Carter move over, you have competition in the history books.