Posted on 11/05/2007 8:52:18 AM PST by pissant
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I saw something recently — could have been on FR — on the demographics of State Department employees that stated that a disproportionate number come from Massachusetts.
They may feel, as I do, that diplomacy is just saying “nice doggy” while you look around for a rock.
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I love that one!
Thank you for your opinion Mr. Croddy. We take that as your request to volunteer. Your plane leaves tomorrow at 0600. Be on it.
"Money for nothing and the chicks are free."
I would be very interested to know the reason(s) why you would consider resignation.
As an active duty Foreign Service officer, I do believe in the worldwide availability nature of our profession. Most FSOs respect that requirement also. So far, to date, over a thousand FSOs have volunteered for duty in Iraq. This year marks the first time that any positions in Iraq have remained unfilled as the annual assignments season gets into high gear. The Department is indicating it may direct (order) non-volunteers into those positions if no more volunteers come forward. I think this is justifiable and should come as no surprise to anyone in the FS. The jobs are there; its important work; and the State Department needs to fulfill its commitments in Iraq as the US military has been fulfilling theirs.
I think my fellow Freepers should take the criticism levied at Director General Thomas last week with a grain of salt. The FS is accustomed to internal discussion and debate, and its true that its been a very long time since assignments were directed into an active combat zone. But I have no doubt that all (or almost all) FSOs that may end up being directed to Iraq will indeed go there. Sure, theres a lot of criticism of Bush and Rice at the State Department, as there is throughout the foreign policy establishment in Washington (and that includes plenty of Republicans, folks). But the overwhelming majority of US professional diplomats are highly patriotic and mission-oriented, and they do view it as our duty to fill these posts in Iraq.
Thats the straight truth from inside the Foreign Service.
I think Hunter is going after the “reluctant nellies” that decided to air their grievances in public. Of course there are great people in State. But then again, you had folks like Joe Wilson too.
Well, Jack, so is commuting on the friggin' beltway.
If you don't believe in the mission, maybe you should should try direct a marketing career and get the hell off the payroll at State.
Marines don't wear BDU's, they wear 'Utilities', more properly known as the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform or MCCUU.
The pixelated, digital camoflage pattern Utilitie uniform used by Marines are unique to the Marine Corps in that the Marine Corps Globe and Anchor insignia is incorporated into the pattern.
SEMPER FI
Thanks for asking. Its really a personal matter.
I am a true believer in this administration and what it is doing in Iraq and the GWOT, generally.
But I have a wife and two small kids. In the places I’ve been posted: Angola and Bogota, for example - there is fear and war and risk to personal safety - mine and my family’s.
If I were assigned to Iraq, especially if I were assigned outside of Baghdad, I would live in fear every minute that I might be the victim of Islamic terrorists. I would not be with my family (missing a precious year of living with my young children) and my death would be a terrible loss to them - more than could be compensated by life insurance).
And Blackwater? I’m glad they protect us, but the cost is high. I wouldn’t want to learn that kids or civilians were killed because I wanted to meet with the local pubah about public water projects.
So. I’m not saying I won’t go. I belive in the mission and I’m glad we’re there. But I don’t know what my decision would be if I were told I had to go.
But, like I said its real personal. In the military, if you don’t go, you’re AWOL. I can just quit and in 20 years receive a fraction of my retirement.
The panel never did address Duncan’s suggestion of hiring wounded soldiers to replace those cowards.
Thanks
Ping
There was only one Ronald Reagan.
And even HE sometimes wasn’t Ronald Reagan: to wit: withdrawal from Beirut after the Marine barracks were hit by Hezbollah; Sandra Day O. and Anthony Kennedy for the Supreme Court; total amnesty for illegals already here; fast friendship with Tip O’Neill who was a severe political enemy and didn’t reciprocate properly for that friendship (kind of like the Bushes and Kennedys or Clintons of today).
To name a few, but I’m out of time.
I’ve been thinking about this and I’m smelling a Rat.
The news from Iraq has improved a lot, but polls show it hasn’t much filtered down to the pollees yet. But it will, eventually, and the Dems know that. What better ploy than to have Dem and Repub Paleocons at State hold a big crybaby session and refuse to go on the grounds that “it’s like a death sentence”. Informed folks know that’s a load of you know what. But the ill-informed might just buy it for now and extend the lifespan of bad news from Iraq.
Next they’ll come up with other ploys to try extending it as long as possible.
I smell the same rat as you do. Preceded by demon
*”JACK CRODDY, FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER: It’s one thing if someone believes in what is going on over there and volunteers. I am sorry, but, basically, that is a potential death sentence, and you know it.
And then another thoughtwho will take care of our children? Who will raise our children if we are dead or seriously wounded?
Lets replace these reluctant Nellies with Americas finest citizens, concluded Hunter. Our wounded warriors will serve our country efficiently, effectively and with undying patriotism.*
The sooner the better!
BTTT
Regarding how many State Department employees have been killed in Iraq, the number is three. Several protective detail contractors, i.e., Blackwater, have also been killed, but I’m restricting my count to direct-hire State Department employees.
Two of them were Diplomatic Security Special Agents (not guards, Foreign Service Specialists); their names were Ed Seitz, who was killed by a mortar round at Camp Victory, and Steven Sullivan, who was killed by a suicide bomber during a motorcade in Mosul. The third casuality was James Mollen, an education advisor, who was killed in Baghdad outside the Green Zone.
Roughly 1,500 State employees have served in Iraq since 2003, which means that 1 in 500 have been killed. By comparison, about 500,000 military troops have served in Iraq since 2003, and about 4,000 of them have been killed, a ratio of 1 to 125. This means that it is more dangerous to be a troop than a diplomat in Iraq - unsurprisingly - but it isn’t exactly safe to be a diplomat there either.
you forgot, Anti-American in front of Ivy League. These arrogant elitists are all contemptible. I would not only fire them immediately, but I would revoke their pensions. It is times like these, that I wish Reagan was still President. These little pitiful wimps would all be terminated.
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