[Billthedrill]

A BTT and thanks for defending her. I met her once very briefly and I didn’t see her as a political flack at all. I’m hoping she didn’t write that garbage and if you say she didn’t I believe you.

[kabar]

I served with her for a few years in Riyadh. She is tough, smart, and capable. I don't have any firsthand knowledge of how the press release came about, but given the high profile of the post and the political season, I seriously doubt that the Embassy would issue a press release without clearance/editing from Washington. I say that advisedly have served 28 years as an FSO.

The tone and language of the PR don't even sound like something a career diplomat would author, especially from someone like Anne who has had 5 ambassadorships including in places like Columbia and Pakistan and as acting UN ambassador. In many cases, ambassadors are the messengers who just carry the Administration's water. When things go bad, they are used as scapegoats like Hume Horan in Saudi Arabia.