Syria
In 2010,U. S. President Barack Obama nominated Ford as the first U.S. Ambassador to Syria in five years (pending U.S. Senate approval). [6] In December 2010,after the U.S. Senate failed to act on the nomination,Obama used a recess appointment to secure Ford the position. [7] The Senate then confirmed Ford by unanimous consent on October 3,2011. [8] [9]
On October 24,2011,Ford was recalled from Syria;the U.S. State Department cited "credible threats" to his safety. [10] Ford had attracted the ire of pro-Assad Syrians due to his strong support of the Syrian uprising. According to American officials,Ford had been attacked by an armed pro-government mob,and Syrian state television had begun running reports blaming him for the formation of death squads similar to those in Iraq. This led to fears that supporters of the Syrian government might try to kill him. [11]
In August 2013,it was reported by The New York Times that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had recommended that Ford serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to Egypt,following the incumbent ambassador,Anne W. Patterson,being nominated to serve as the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs – the head of the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs within the U.S. Department of State,which oversees the Middle East. [12]
On February 4,2014,officials of the U.S. State Department said that Ford was retiring [13] and on February 28 announced his departure. [14]
The U.S. States Department announced the appointment of Daniel Rubinstein as U.S. special envoy for Syria on March 14. [15]
In December 2018,Ford declared his support for President Trump's decision to withdraw US troops from Syria,describing it as "essentially correct." [16]
Actions in Syria
He visited Hama,where he was cheered by protesters. [17]
He met with Hassan Abdul-Azim,and was attacked with eggs and tomatoes by government supporters. [18] [19]
