U.S. Senate panel backs confirmation of new ambassador to Russia
Do you think it's time, nimrods? Jeeze.
U.S. Senate panel backs confirmation of new ambassador to Russia
By Patricia Zengerle Reuters
6:55 p.m. CDT, July 29, 2014
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's nominee to be the new U.S. ambassador to Russia could be on his way to Moscow in days, after U.S. senators put aside partisan differences to hold a quick vote backing his appointment on Tuesday.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held an unscheduled evening meeting to unanimously approve the nomination of John Tefft, a career diplomat and former ambassador to Ukraine, Georgia and Lithuania, to be the new envoy to Moscow.
After five months without an American in the position, both Republicans and Democrats said the dire state of U.S. relations with Russia made it imperative to confirm Tefft before Congress leaves on Aug. 1 for a five-week recess.
There was no immediate word on when the full Senate might hold that vote.
Tefft had painted a dire picture of relations with Moscow as he sailed through his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations panel earlier on Tuesday.
"Our relations with Russia today are in serious trouble and their future is uncertain," he testified to the committee.
"The United States cannot ignore the fundamental challenge to the international order posed by Russia's actions in the Ukraine crisis."
more...
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-rt-us-usa-russia-diplomacy-20140729,0,299094.story
And they are in a hurry:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025308130
