| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq |
| US will require diplomats to serve in Iraq |
| 2007-10-27 |
| The US State Department said Friday it will have to require diplomats to serve in Iraq because of a lack of volunteers for postings at the US Embassy in Baghdad. Beginning Monday, between 200 to 300 diplomats will be notified that they have been identified as "prime candidates" to fill between 40 and 50 vacancies that will open next year at the Baghdad embassy, said Harry Thomas, director general of the US Foreign Service. Millennium is here |
| Posted by:g(r)omgoru |
| #13 I wonder whether Condi would be more disappointed if 25% or 75% of those assigned to Iraq decided to resign rather than take the transfer? |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2007-10-27 14:30 |
| #12 I saw something about this last year. Can't find the source, but evidently Condi made it clear that the people at State who wanted to move up had better learn Arabic or Fasi as opposed to French or Russian, had better volunteer for duty in the Middle East as opposed to Europe, etc. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2007-10-27 14:12 |
| #11 I agree, this should have been done soon after the invasion. In fact the State Department should create a track where as you start there, go to Saudi Arabia, than Israel to really get the feel of the region. Hopefully the reality of Israel after Saudi Arabia would help clean up some soft brains. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2007-10-27 13:20 |
| #10 Besoeker: yes and no. Though they often have to work together, CIA and State institutionally don't care much for each other. State has no operational alternative of action, which gives them a bizarre mind set of jawboning inaction, mutual satisfaction and ultra pacifism. If things end up having to go active, State has failed and knows it. CIA, on the other hand, is both active and covert. If they do anything, it is either in preparation to go active, going active, or covering up; all of which they try to keep out of the limelight. They never jawbone, and they assume hostility, even with allies. So with such radically different prerogatives, it is no wonder that they are seldom on the same sheet of music. This is why disgruntled State employees were so desirable by CIA. They didn't prefer jawboning and inaction, and cozying up to foreign scumbags. Or at least that was the CIA assumption. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-10-27 13:04 |
| #9 Anonymoose: But we all know it still fits the category of...."hiring from within." |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2007-10-27 09:42 |
| #8 Years ago, the standard route to enter the CIA was to work for State for a couple of years, then to resign for unspecified reasons, implying that you left State holding your nose. You would soon get a knock on your door from CIA, with a job offer. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-10-27 09:40 |
| #7 Hmmm, maybe we'll get a new class of diplomats who don't "go native" almost immediately and become enemies of America in the bargain? |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2007-10-27 09:32 |
| #6 No problem, we here at State are very progressive and no longer require proof of citizenship. We'll issue you a trendy new black passport, no problem. To get the USG minority hiring points we must changed your name to Jose B. Excalibra. We hope you do not mind. On the attached application, if you could check the "other" box where it asks "male" or "female," we get additional hiring points. Just something to consider. You will be assigned to the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs in the grade of GG-14, which is $ 120k and some change per anum. Add to that the US State 1.7% overseas and hazardous duty multiplier and you'll soon be breaking $ 200k per year. How am I doing so far Mr. Excalibra? |
| Posted by: Volunteers Is Us 2007-10-27 09:32 |
| #5 I am not an American citizen but have some pertinent qualifications. I volunteer and am available starting Monday, November 5 (have to give my current employer notice and take a day to pack). |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2007-10-27 09:14 |
| #4 Perhaps now we will get diplomats with prior military experience. Nothing could help foggy bottom more. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2007-10-27 07:35 |
| #3 US will require diplomats to serve in Iraq Long ago this should have been a preliminary qualification "tour" for the diplomatic corps. Those who think that Islam does not represent a threat to Western civilization need to spend a lot more time in the MME (Muslim Middle East). |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-10-27 03:06 |
| #2 Mr. Thomas, please keep Rantburg posed on the resignation letters. I have taken the liberty of attaching a highly reputable outsourcing firm which you may whish to contact. They have a splendid record of accomplishment and their personnel are of the highest quality. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2007-10-27 02:48 |
| #1 Volunteer or be assigned, Asshats! Not everyone gets Brussels! Those who don't, get Darfur |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-10-27 01:10 |