[okie01]

The State dept is supposed to represent us to other nations. Somewhere along the line, they decided their job was to represent other nations to us.

This is a risk that occurs in any "representation" capacity -- be it diplomacy, or regulation...or even advertising and sales.

Representatives should intimately know the wants and needs of the host country, regulated industry, client or customer. Sometimes, though, there is a tendency for the representative to relate to the host, client or customer -- to his country's, or constituency's, or employer's detriment.

It is the role of management to insure that this tendency is suppressed. In the diplomatic trade, it's called "going native". In sales, it's called "taking the customer's side". It's one of the reasons for "rotation" -- changing a diplomat's country, an agent's account or a saleman's territory.

Obviously, it has been a long time since State Department management exercised their responsibility in this regard.

Or, now that I think of it, in any other regard, as well.

[Zack Nguyen]

Well said.

[Godwin1]

One of the "prisoners" Black September wanted freed was Sirhan Sirhan, assassin of Bobby Kennedy. The State Department--and the broader USG--has known of Arafat's involvement in these murders since very early on. But administrations of both parties were desperate for a "partner" for peace. We were ready to look the other way. A big mistake. We eventually learned Arafat was no "partner." He wanted victory on his terms, not peace.