New Ambassador To Vietnam Confirmed

David Shear is on his way to Vietnam to take up his post as ambassador there after Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) lifted her hold, which she placed in order to pressure the State Department to act on Vietnamese adoption and custody problems.

Marco Rubio’s hold was lifted in mid-June.

In his confirmation hearing testimony given on April 6, 2011, Ambassador Shear said,

I have spent my career in the Asia-Pacific region, and I am personally committed to using all of the knowledge and skills I have gained over the past 29 years to pursue the American people’s interests in Vietnam. If confirmed, I will do my utmost to ensure that our relationship with Vietnam is among the most successful in the East Asian region. There is much work to be done, and I look forward to earning your confidence.

Shear’s confirmation hearing statement also touched on issues such as security, climate change, trade and residual issues relating to the war, but made no reference to international adoption.

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