President Donald Trump on Tuesday nominated retired four-star Army Gen. John Abizaid as ambassador to Saudi Arabia amid strained relations over the slaying of Saudi critic and journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The Wall Street Journal reported Abizaid, 57, oversaw U.S. Central Command during the initial years of the Iraq War, was born in California, is of Lebanese descent, and speaks Arabic.
He is currently a fellow at the Stanford University's Hoover Institution and runs JPA Partners, an international strategic consulting firm.
The United States has not had a permanent ambassador in Saudi Arabia since January 2017. Abizaid would need Senate confirmation.
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