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Senate Committee Approves Blinken for No. Two State Department Post


Mr. Blinken, shown at the White House in July, has been Mr. Obama’s deputy national security adviser since 2013.
Associated Press
President Barack Obama’s nominee for the job of deputy secretary of state was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday but faces Republican opposition before the full Senate.

The committee approved the nomination of Antony Blinken to serve as the nation’s second-highest ranking diplomat along with a group of other nominees on a voice vote, with several Republican members objecting.

Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.), a critic of the Obama administration’s foreign policy, said last week he was opposing Mr. Blinken’s nomination, arguing he was unqualified and citing his involvement in the 2011 withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. Mr. Blinken has been Mr. Obama’s deputy national security adviser since 2013.

“He’s unqualified, he’s refused to answer simple and fundamental questions I had for him,” Mr. McCain said. He said he would contest Mr. Blinken’s nomination on the Senate floor and vowed to read there “at least 20 of his quotes which have no relation whatsoever to the actual situation on the ground.”

Another committee member, Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) joined in the opposition, vowing he would use “every procedural method available” to oppose Mr. Blinken’s nomination. He cited what he said was Mr. Blinken’s refusal to answer questions about the administration’s relations with Cuba.

Still, Mr. Blinken received support from members of both parties on the committee. Sen. Bob Corker (R., Tenn.), who will become chairman next year, said he thought it was best Mr. Blinken’s nomination proceed and that the State Department post not be left empty.

“We are better off getting Mr. Blinken out of this committee and on to the floor,” Mr. Corker said. There was no indication when the full Senate would consider Mr. Blinken’s nomination.


Eric D. Schwerin
eschwerin@rosemontseneca.com

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