Trump names retired general John Abizaid to be ambassador to Saudi Arabia

(The Washington Post) President Trump announced Tuesday that he will nominate retired Army Gen. John Abizaid to become the U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia filling a vacancy that was spotlighted by the difficult diplomacy between the United States and Riyadh over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The post has been vacant throughout Trumps presidency. Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have blamed Senate Democrats for holding up nominations but no one had been nominated for the job until now. Turkey where Washington Post contributing columnist Khashoggi was killed last month also has no U.S. ambassador. Abizaid best known from his time overseeing the Iraq War is now a consultant and a fellow at Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution. His selection emphasizes the importance Trump has placed on the military partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia a major customer for U.S. arms. Trump has said he does not want to disrupt arms sales in protest of Khashoggis death but has promised unspecified consequences for Saudi Arabia. Khashoggi was a U.S. resident. Saudi leaders initially denied any involvement by the kingdom in the death but now acknowledge it was premeditated. King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman deny involvement. Read More