Rice Drops Out

"While I deeply regret the unfair and misleading attacks on Susan Rice in recent weeks, her decision demonstrates the strength of her character." - Pres. Obama

Embattled U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice

(WASHINGTON DC) - Embattled U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, who was slated to be the next secretary of state on Thursday after clashing with Republican senators who declared they would vigorously oppose her nomination, abruptly withdrew from consideration.

The sudden changes means Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts becomes the likely choice to be the nation's next top diplomat when Hillary Rodham Clinton departs soon.

As The AP reports, President Barack Obama accepted Rice's decision with a shot at Republicans.

"While I deeply regret the unfair and misleading attacks on Susan Rice in recent weeks, her decision demonstrates the strength of her character."

Rice had become the public face of the tangled administration description of what happened in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11 of this year when four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador to Libya, were killed in what is now known to have been a terrorist attack.

She also has a close relationship with Rwanda President Paul Kagame who is under investigation for war crimes and ties to the deadly M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rice told Obama she was convinced the confirmation process would be "lengthy, disruptive and costly — to you and to our most pressing national and international priorities."

"That trade-off is simply not worth it to our country," Rice said.