America names its new man

RIGA -- US Ambassador to Latvia, Catherine Todd Bailey, has confirmed thename of her successor.

The US Embassy in Riga reported thatthe new ambassador will be Charles W. Larson Jr. The nomination of the newambassador must still be approved by the US Senate, but this is likely to be aformality and Bailey plans to continue to serve until her successor isconfirmed.

Bailey's tenure has included two visits by U.S. PresidentGeorge W. Bush to Latvia and she recently found herself dominating front page headlines whenshe delivered a strongly-worded speech attacking corruption and oligarchy inthe country.

Bailey's term expires on Feb. 4, 2008.

According to the procedure, a USambassador is nominated by the USpresident and then approved by the US Senate. Before travelling to the countryof residence, a new ambassador has to give the oath to the U.S.secretary of state.

Larson, aged just 39, was born in Iowa. Larsoncurrently serves as a partner at Lincoln Strategies Group and a major in the USArmy Reserve. Prior to this, he served as a state representative and statesenator in the Iowa General Assembly. Larson received his bachelor's degree in1992 and a doctoral degree in law in 1996 from the University of Iowa.

He has served in Iraq andin 2005 founded an organization called Families United for Our Troops and TheirMission, supporting military operations in Iraq.