[Little Ray]

What is it about the State Department that turns its appointees and staff into fools, cowards, and traitors?

[VOA]

What is it about the State Department that turns its appointees and
staff into fools, cowards, and traitors?

My inexpert guess is that they become "citizens of the world".

There's a story (perhaps apocryphal) that when George Schultz was
Sec. State, he'd have an interview with State Dept. employees before
they departed for their distant postings.
There was a big globe in Schultz's office; he'd spin it and ask
the interviewee to "point out your country".

Most times, after the fellow would point it out, Schultz
would calmly, but forcefully say "NO...point out YOUR country".

Meaning, usually they initially pointed out the country they'd
be posted to.
And Schultz just wanted to remind them that they were being sent
abroad to represent the interests of the USA.
Not the country they were headed for.