Posted on 11/08/2017 9:19:38 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
The U.S.s ranks of diplomats are losing key leaders at a dizzying speed as the State Department struggles to recruit talent amid a hiring freeze and sinking morale in the Trump administration, according to a new letter from a top ambassador.
Sixty percent of the agencys career ambassadors, the highest rank for diplomats, have retired or quit since January. Nearly half of career ministers the next level down and equivalent to the militarys three-star generals are gone too, down to 19 from 33. The next-level minister counselors have seen their numbers drop by 62 diplomats since Labor Day alone and are still falling, writes Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, the president of the American Foreign Service Association union.
Without these leaders, the U.S. could face a diminished role on the world stage, unable to keep up with the increasingly aggressive foreign policies of rising countries like China, she argues.
So far, the Trump administration has only seven high-level political appointees confirmed by the Senate and working in the department outside of Tillerson but including USAID Administrator Mark Green and Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan. An additional eight nominees are working their way through the confirmation process now, with the Senate either awaiting their paperwork or the nominees awaiting a Senate hearing or vote.
But in the absence of Trump nominees, there are 30 senior roles filled by career diplomats in acting capacities. Although there is someone doing the work, they do not enjoy the full legal authority of their role or the image of speaking on the administrations behalf to the world.
There are 39 other senior roles that are vacant, but Tillerson has said he plans to eliminate 18 of those and fold their responsibilities into other jobs.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
I’d like to be the ambassador to Belize. I’m trained as an electrical engineer but wouldn’t mind a career shift.
Good, Foggy Bottom is the sinkhole of the Swamp.
Might have something to do with all that "unaccounted for" funds spent by the State Department while Hillary was running the show.
“Sixty percent of the agencys career ambassadors, the highest rank for diplomats, have retired or quit since January. Nearly half of career ministers the next level down and equivalent to the militarys three-star generals are gone too, down to 19 from 33. The next-level minister counselors have seen their numbers drop by 62 diplomats since Labor Day alone and are still falling, writes Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, the president of the American Foreign Service Association union.”
And this is bad because?
#MAGA in progress...
If I were a career swamp diplomat in today’s Washington, I would have a morale problem too.
They say that like it’s a bad thing.
My previous post was not meant to be humorous, I am serious.
The RINO Senate slow-walk continues.
The “image” of speaking on the admin’s behalf? What like fantastic “image” given to Saddam that the US would have no issues with him invading Kuwait (to “reclaim” the southern province...so he thought). This delivered by one April Glaspie—career foreign service Reagan appointed first woman ambassador in an arab country— THAT kind of deeply needed overstepping bureaucrat? A “bush” type incompetent who got us into the never ending ME cascade of wars and conflict, and massive application of US military talent and expense. As mercenaries for the House of Saud.
This loss of “experienced” Dhimmi State Dept. bureaucrats is highly welcome. 800 Billion disappeared under hitlery— still un found (they should try bank records of Clinton Global Initiative).
ABC=Left. I hate the left. Lying liars all.
I have my application in for ambassador to Aruba and at half the salary, will let you know how I make out....
Addition by subtraction.
Every ambassador tenders their formal resignation upon change of the presidency; this is a requirement that triggers the president to either grant their continued service, or they are recalled to Washington and Main State.
I served in the foreign service as one of the vaunted/authorized strength of 15,000 foreign service officers and specialists worldwide. If an ambassador quits or is recalled we appoint one of the senior folks at post. The Foreign Service Association is one of those "self important" organizations who co-mingle themselves with the Union and the active members of the State Department; this is neither bad nor good, and keeps the old timers in the loop in their own center of the universe.
You’ll get a nice bonus and a mini-series on The Discovery Channel if you find the remains of Natalie Holloway and evidence leading to the conviction and execution of Urine Vanderslut.
There’s some good news. Trump’s purging that nest of communists and Marxists.
Excellent news!!
I’ve watched the confirmation hearings for these people on CSPAN and am amazed how utterly ignorant they are about the countries we’re sending them to. I’m more qualified to be an ambassador than most of them.
“...American Foreign Service Association union.” I never heard of such a union. Are they organized to negotiate for wages, benefits and working conditions as do labor unions?? If so, with whom do they negotiate??
What’s the bad news?
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