Plain-spoken US Senator Webb to visit Myanmar

August 13, 2009
Written by , in In Asia

WASHINGTON (AFP) – Democratic US Senator Jim Webb, who hopes to meet Myanmar supremo Than Shwe later this week, is a gruff-talking former Marine and decorated Vietnam War veteran with a lifelong interest in Asia. Webb, 63, chairs the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific affairs and was discussed at one point in 2008 as a possible running mate for President Barack Obama — but publicly ruled himself out. Webb, who represents Virginia, held a hearing of his panel in July to…