[ad_1]
General John Abizaid, of the retired army, seen in 2007, will occupy this position in Riyadh at a time when Saudi-US relations are strained by the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
Photo:
Ben Margot / Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Trump on Tuesday named General John Abizaid, a retired former army officer, who oversaw US central command during the early years of the war in Iraq.
US-Saudi relations have been strained by the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, admitted by the kingdom. Mr. Trump has not yet decided retaliatory measures to take and is facing pressure from Congress and the Government of Turkey. Khashoggi was killed on Oct. 2 in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, and Turkish officials said senior Saudi officials were aware of a plot to assassinate him.
Born in California, Mr. Abizaid, 67, is of Lebanese origin and speaks Arabic. He led the US Central Command from 2003 to 2007, overseeing joint strategy and operations in the Middle East, Horn of Africa and Central Asia.
Mr. Abizaid holds a Master's degree in Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University. He is currently a member of Stanford University's Hoover Institution and leads JPA Partners, an international strategy consulting firm. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the International Institute of Strategic Studies.
The United States does not have a permanent ambassador to Saudi Arabia since January 2017. Mr. Abizaid would need confirmation from the Senate.
