Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., on Tuesday slammed President Donald Trump's administration for not yet appointing a U.S. ambassador to South Korea.
Duckworth referred to a Washington Post report Tuesday that said the president decided to drop Victor D. Cha as an ambassador candidate because he objected to a National Security Council consideration to employ a "bloody nose" strategy with North Korea — a limited strike aimed at sending a message.
"This is yet another reason for every American to worry. If this report is true and we've truly reached a point where opposing unprovoked armed conflict is a disqualifier from serving as ambassador …this represents a troubling development and setback for diplomacy," Duckworth said in a statement to the Washington Examiner.
The administration has gone more than a year without appointing a South Korea ambassador, the Examiner reported. That sends a "terrible message to our allies," said Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran a U.S. Army helicopter pilot, who lost both her legs in combat.
"Our diplomatic mission in South Korea needs permanent leadership in order to advance our nation's interests," Duckworth added.
The senator has criticized Trump before. "I don't think he has the right to question other people's support for our military, especially those of us who have served," Duckworth said Sunday, The Huffington Post reported.
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