Larry Palmer remains the nominee to become the next ambassador to Venezuela despite objections from Caracas over President Barack Obama's choice, the US State Department said Monday. "Larry Palmer remains our nominee. He's uniquely qualified, we believe, to serve as ambassador to Venezuela," said Mark Toner, a State Department spokesman. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Friday that Palmer was unsuitable for the post because of negative remarks he had made about the state of the country's air force. Chavez also complained that the US government had designated Venezuela as a country not adequately cooperating in fighting drug trafficking.
