[waxhaw]

I will vouch for everything you've written. I'm with the Dept. of Defense and have worked in our consulates/embassies in Munich, Athens, Caracas, Tegucigalpa and Mexico City during 2 to 3 years tours. I've done short-term work ("TDYs") in probably another six or seven embassies; I have met hundreds of State Department careerists. I could count on the fingers of one hand those State Department careerists who would be worth the powder it would take to blow them up - the vast, vast majority are not only liberal but EXTREMELY liberal. I wouldn't mind this too much if I saw some integrity mixed with their ideology, instead I have found the vast majority to be corrupt (spiritually and ethically); many believe themselves to be "above the law" and as far as plain ability goes I have found the vast majority to be either completly inept or incompetent. In my opinion, the only way to repair the State Dept. would be to fire EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE and start over. Very, very few in the State Dept. have what we think of as "real world" skills; most have come right from Academia (though there are some "direct hires" who were recruited from various major city "management teams", which means they come with major political connections). It is both disgusting and frightening to think that these people are representing (forget about defending) America.

[Vigilanteman]

I'm just curious. WWhat percentage of state department employees do you actually think are representing American interests? I'd suspect it is pretty close to the veteran's quota.

[tictoc]

In my opinion, the only way to repair the State Dept. would be to fire EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE and start over.

BTTT