W. Patrick Murphy, a Vermont-raised diplomat with an expertise in Southeast Asia, has been confirmed as the next U.S. ambassador to Cambodia, a country that has retreated from its decades-long experiment with democracy as it sidles up to regional superpower China.
Murphy’s confirmation process began almost a year ago — delayed in part because of the federal government shutdown that began in December — and finally concluded with Senate approval on a voice vote Thursday.
“I benefitted from my upbringing in Vermont, where I was exposed to the value of public service,” Murphy said during his confirmation hearing on Dec. 4. “I have spent much of my career in Southeast Asia and, if confirmed, look forward to further contributions in this critical part of the world.”
In full: https://vtdigger.org/2019/08/02/vermont-diplomat-confirmed-as-ambassador-to-backsliding-cambodia/
