Margaret Scobey (born c. 1949) is an American diplomat and former United States Ambassador to Egypt and United States Ambassador to Syria.

Margaret Scobey
Margaret Scobey
United States Ambassador to Egypt
In office
March 14, 2008 – 2011
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Barack Obama
Preceded byFrancis J. Ricciardone, Jr.
Succeeded byAnne W. Patterson
Political Counselor in Baghdad
In office
2006–2007
United States Ambassador to Syria
In office
December 12, 2003 – 2005
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byTheodore H. Kattouf
Succeeded byStephen A. Seche
Personal details
Born1949 (age 74–75)
Memphis, Tennessee
Alma materUniversity of Tennessee
University of Michigan
ProfessionDiplomat

Biography

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Scobey graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in Memphis, Tennessee in 1967.[1] She earned a B.A. and an M.A. in history from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Scobey pursued doctoral studies in history at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

As a United States Foreign Service Officer, Scobey served at the U.S. embassies in many Middle and Near Eastern countries.[citation needed] She was the Deputy Chief of Mission in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from September 2001 to November 2003, before receiving her first appointment as ambassador, to Syria. She was recalled from Syria in 2005 after the assassination of the Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. Scobey served as Political Counselor in Baghdad from 2006 to 2007.[2]

In February 2008, she was nominated and confirmed as the U.S. Ambassador to Egypt.[3]

In February 2011, she spoke with Mohamed ElBaradei,[4] telling him:

The U.S. is interested in a political change in Egypt, but that the US government won't dictate the path which Cairo must follow."[5]

References

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  1. ^ Sullivan, Bartholomew (January 31, 2011). "Ambassador, a former Memphian, describes events in Egypt as 'pretty unpredictable'". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  2. ^ "Her Excellency Margaret Scobey". Washington Diplomat. Archived from the original on 2012-03-22. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  3. ^ "Ambassador Margaret Scobey". Embassy of the United States, Cairo Egypt. Archived from the original on 2011-02-01.
  4. ^ "Obama to Mubarak: Orderly transition 'must begin now'". USA Today. February 1, 2011.
  5. ^ "US Ambassador to Egypt: US won't dictate Cairo path". February 2011.
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Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Syria
2004–2005
Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Egypt
2008–2011
Succeeded by