The American Ambassador to Damascus: A New Failure in Diplomatic Pressure

In a step that resembles the Syrian diplomatic success in 2010, the White House has announced President Obama’s decision to appoint Robert Ford as the ambassador to Damascus. The position has remained in limbo since February of last year, awaiting a vote in the American Congress on the appointment of Ambassador Ford to Damascus. The failure of the Democrats in the recent midterm elections has made the relationship between the White House and the Republicans ambiguous on a number of international issues, including American–Syrian relations. The White House sees the decision to return the ambassador to the Damascus as an important step. Conversely, the lack of his presence does not serve any issue except to undermine America’s position.

The return of the American ambassador to Damascus by presidential order from Obama means that the policy of estrangement and punishment that the Republicans and Democrats have pursued towards Damascus has failed and that the policy of dialogue is what best serves peace in the region. This is reflected in the U.S. diplomatic rift with Damascus and the capability of the Syrian tactic to overcome the policies of pressure and extortion by the Americans, and the West in general, regarding the issues that concern Damascus in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq and the whole Arab world. This constitutes the recognition of the importance of Syria’s role and centrality in the region as an important and influential player in Arab and regional affairs. We can say that the failure of the policy of pressure and extortion that the Bush administration and the dregs of the neo-conservatives in Obama’s term have undertaken means that the diplomacy of Damascus sits above all forms of pressure and extortion.