Christian Leaders Rage at Naming of Gay US Ambassador to Dominican Republic

THE GUARDIAN: The arrival of a new envoy and his husband in Santo Domingo has incensed prominent Catholics and evangelicals

The new US ambassador to the Dominican Republic has taken up his post and introduced the country to his husband, despite an outcry from religious groups over the fact that he is gay.

James "Wally" Brewster arrived in Santo Domingo this week after months of protests from Catholic and evangelical Christian leaders who branded his appointment an insult to the Caribbean nation. The diplomat, who is believed to be the US's seventh openly gay ambassador, responded to the controversy with an upbeat promotional video on the embassy website which introduced his husband, Bob Satawake.

"My spouse, Bob, and I have travelled the world, from the far reaches of Asia to the stunning coastlines of southern Europe," Brewster says in the clip. Satawake chips in: "But we always return to the beauty of the Dominican Republic."

Both men wear smiles and sober suits and profess a love of baseball, their adopted country's national passion. » | Rory Carroll | Friday, November 29, 2013

Ingraham's Angle: Ambassador Anna Wintour?
Does reports that Pres. Obama is considering Vogue editor in chief for ambassadorship show the title can be bought and paid for?

Body of Ambassador Used in 'Obscene' Ad By Gay Republicans

THE ADVOCATE: A print advertisement paid for by the Broward County chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans includes the body of the U.S. ambassador to Libya who was killed in what has lately been called a terrorist attack.

The ad was reported on by Bilerico Project and printed in an LGBT newspaper called the Florida Agenda. It attacks President Obama as unable to protect Americans.

"If the Obama Administration isn't going to protect Gay/Gay-friendly American citizens from the terror of Islamic radicalism," the ad asks, "what makes you think they will protect us from Shariah Law… ANYWHERE?" » | Lucas Grindley | Friday, October 12, 2012

Libya: Benghazi Crowds Drive Out Islamist Militants
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Cheering crowds swept through the Libyan city of Benghazi clearing Islamist militias from their bases after protests triggered by the killing of the American ambassador, Chris Stevens.


Up to four people were reported dead in clashes which broke out when the last and biggest militia was attacked in the early hours of Saturday morning. Earlier, members of Ansar al-Sharia, the militant group accused of responsibility for Mr Stevens' death, were forced out of their strongholds in the city.

The deaths and promises of retribution by militia leaders presage more trouble to come. But for the moment the headquarters of the freelance groups that have held sway in Benghazi since the revolution that toppled Col Muammar Gaddafi are claimed to be in the hands of police and army units loyal to the newly elected prime minister, Mustafa Abushagur.

The protests in Benghazi on Friday evening, estimated at 30,000-strong, featured pro-American slogans and banners, unusual for demonstrations in Arab countries. Though many protesters said they were attending "for Benghazi, not for America", some held up placards commemorating Mr Stevens, who lived in Benghazi last year while co-ordinating American support for the revolution.

"We demand justice for Stevens," said one, and "Libya lost a friend" another. » | Richard Spencer, Benghazi | Saturday, September 22, 2012

What Now for US-Libya Relations?
We examine the regional implications of the violence in Benghazi that left the US ambassador to the country dead.

Protesters Storm US Embassy in Yemen over Anti-Islam Film
THE GUARDIAN: No casualties reported in the attack in Sana'a, which happened a day after the US ambassador to Libya was killed in Benghazi

Arab outrage triggered by an anti-Islamic film made in California has spread to Yemen, where protesters attacked the US embassy in Sana'a.

The Yemeni government said on Thursday that there had been no casualties as a result of the storming of the embassy compound and vowed to protect all foreign embassies in the capital.

The protesters succeeded in breaching security at the outer perimeter of the embassy, breaking into the compound and burning the US flag, but they were unable to gain entry to the embassy buildings.

The incident came a day after the killing of the US ambassador to Libya,Chris Stevens, and three other Americans in an armed assault on the US consulate in Benghazi, and a demonstration at the US embassy in Cairo, where protesters managed to take down the Stars and Stripes before being evicted.

In all three countries the ostensible reason for the demonstrations was fury at a virulently Islamaphobic video, which appeared online in July but only drew a mass audience in the past week after Christian and Muslim radicals started to publicise it. The maker of the film, Innocence of Muslims, which crudely denigrates the prophet Muhammad, called himself Sam Bacile and claimed to be Israeli American, but that appears to be an alias. » | Julian Borger | Thursday, September 13, 2012

US Ambassador Killed in Libya: Afghanistan Bans YouTube over Anti-Islam Film
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Afghan government on Wednesday banned YouTube from the country for the first time to prevent people from watching an anti-Islam film, The Innocence of Muslims, which sparked a riot in Libya that killed the US ambassador and three other American diplomats.

"Following instructions by the ministry of information and culture, the ministry of communication has ordered all service providers to block YouTube access," communications ministry official Aimal Marjan told AFP.

He said the block had been ordered "until YouTube removes this abusive film".

The Afghan presidency earlier condemned the film as "inhuman and insulting," calling for it not to be broadcast.

It was made by an Israeli-American and describes Islam as a "cancer" and depicts the Prophet Mohammed sleeping with women, the Wall Street Journal reported. » | Source: AFP | Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Vogue Editor Helps Obama Campaign as Rumours Grow of Plum Diplomatic Post
THE OBSERVER: Anna Wintour has raised $500,000 for President Obama's re-election campaign. Will an ambassador's job be her reward?

Anna Wintour, the formidable British editor of American Vogue, has been named as a leading fundraiser in the re-election campaign of Barack Obama – an effort that has led to renewed speculation that she might be in line for a political appointment, potentially the US ambassadorship in London should the post becomes vacant later this year as expected.

Wintour, 62, is expected to step further out from the political shadows this week when she joins David Bowie's wife Iman to campaign for Obama on his home turf of Chicago.

The pair will travel to the city in the company of White House deputy chief of staff Jim Messina, known in Washington as "the fixer", or "the most powerful person in Washington that you haven't heard of". The Washington Post reported last week that the price of access to the event is $1,000, considerably less than access to a $40,000-a-plate fundraising dinner Wintour is co-hosting two nights later at the New York home of Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker.

Both events point to elevated political engagement by the British-born editor satirised in The Devil Wears Prada. » | Edward Helmore in New York | Sunday, June 10, 2012

Lightweight American president about to appoint lightweight British American ambassador to London. – © Mark

Vatican Blocks Caroline Kennedy Appointment as US Ambassador
THE TELEGRAPH: The Vatican has blocked the appointment of Caroline Kennedy as US ambassador, according to reports.

Caroline Kennedy blocked by the Vatican. Photo courtesy of The Telegraph
Vatican sources told Il Giornale that their support for abortion disqualified Ms Kennedy and other Roman Catholics President Barack Obama had been seeking to appoint.

Mr Obama was reportedly seeking to reward John F Kennedy's daughter, who publicly gave her support to his election bid. She had been poised to replace Hillary Clinton as New York senator, but dropped out amid criticism that she lacked enough experience for the job. >>> By Alex Spillius in Washington | Saturday, April 11, 2009