He just wants to beat Carter’s 400 day record.
I suspect as the State Department is ordered to stand up such an operation (when the day comes)....it’ll be difficult to recruit for the embassy staff. They may have to offer some deal where you do a year there, and then get a job in Tokyo or London for four years. Knowing the past history, there isn’t going to be something that most folks would volunteer for and be happy over an assignment there.