WASHINGTON (AP) — Several hundred U.S. diplomats vented anger and frustration Wednesday about the State Department’s decision to force foreign service officers to take jobs in Iraq, with some likening it to a “potential death sentence.”
In a contentious hourlong town-hall meeting, they peppered officials responsible for the order with often hostile complaints about the largest diplomatic call-up since Vietnam. Announced last week, it will require some diplomats — under threat of dismissal — to serve at the embassy in Baghdad and in reconstruction teams in outlying provinces.
Many expressed serious concern about the ethics of sending diplomats against their will to serve in a war zone, where the embassy staff is largely confined to the protected “Green Zone,” and safety outside the area is uncertain while a review of the department’s use of private security contractors to protect its staff is underway.
“Incoming is coming in every day, rockets are hitting the Green Zone,” said Jack Croddy, a senior foreign service officer who once worked as a political adviser with NATO forces.
He and others confronted Foreign Service Director General Harry Thomas, who approved the move to “directed assignments” late last Friday to make up for a lack of volunteers willing to go to Iraq.
Full Story Here:
U.S. diplomats vent over forced Iraq duty
Our troops don’t have a choice, they have to be there, if you want PEACE then you have to have DIPLOMACY to make it happen, that endeavor requires diplomats, and that’s YOUR job, DO IT or get out of the business, suck it up and stop crying, life is NOT fair, this is the job YOU signed on for and you ALL sound like a bunch of wussies…
Anyone want to take bets as to how long before this bunch of cowardly asshats will be screaming that they REALLY DO need people like Blackwater USA to protect them??
“Who’s going to take care of our families if we get hurt or killed?”, that pretty much seems to be the biggest excuse we’re hearing for NOT wanting to go to Iraq and to that I have to say, why, the very same people that are taking care of our wounded troops and the families of our deceased troops, cheer up, you’re in good hands, don’t worry, YOUR government is in charge and will provide care for you…
As far as I am concerned the most serious point of this story would be the questions it poses??
Aren’t we being told, EVERY DAY, that Iraq is safer, Iraq is under control, we are winning hearts and minds, deaths and injuries are WAY down, we are IN CONTROL, isn’t that what the White House is telling us, every day?? Isn’t that what all the Bush Bots sites preach to us??
Isn’t that the rationale being used to BS the American people into being quiet as even MORE of our BILLIONS in tax dollars are wasted in an effort that is NOT going to end in our lifetime??
Well, my BIG question is this, IF Iraq is all those things, WHY are the guys in the Diplomatic Corps crying like little yard bitches that just got slapped?? You don’t suppose they actually know something that the Bush administration isn’t telling us do you?? Like maybe the REAL story about Iraq?? The story that I and many others have been trying to convince folks of for quite some time now??
Surely not…
Trackback URL:
http://texasfred.net/archives/684/trackback/
“Anyone want to take bets as to how long before this bunch of cowardly asswipes will be screaming that they REALLY DO need people like Blackwater USA to protect them??”
Bets? hell they are all ready screaming for protection and no one does that better than Blackwater…
This is very disturbing Fred, our “diplomats” the ones that were behind this invasion from the start, are now crying about fairness???? because their asses might be the ones in the cross hairs.
It’s real easy to claim you support the troops, but when it’s your turn to do the job your paid to do, in a hostile environment you cry foul?
What a crock, I wonder how many of these diplomatic tools are Bots?
Hey Fred!
I won’t go into the backstory, so to speak of the war, because we have slightly different views and that’s okay.
I do find this HILARIOUS in these people are so quick to condemn Blackwater and such for doing a very dangerous job-often “babysitting” the butts of the higher ups while our troops are doing their jobs. It’s easy for these diplomats to sit over here, in their cushy offices, and Monday-morning quarterback the firms like Blackhawk and spread the nonsense, but when the time comes to put their money where their mouths are, they whine like little babies.
You’re right-everyone wants to see Iraq turned over to the Iraqis as quickly as possible and part of that IS INDEED the diplomatic end of things and now it’s time for these pampered wimps to get over their and do THEIR job-if they don’t like it, tough. They’ve “made their bed” with their career choice and by opening their yaps about the protectors of the contractors-now they need to fish or cut bait.
Good post!
Well, I have to agree with you on this one. I know for a fact that being assigned to the US Embassy in the “Green Zone”, is not all that bad. I was informed by a person assigned there that the living area is outstanding, the food is great and the parties are awesome. They have telephones, internet and television in every room. We on the the other hand had only the movies we bought and the game stations to watch them on. I would gladly take the place of these overpaid crybabies. They ought to be glad that they are offered a job and not unemployed. I, like many other wounded Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans are going to be lucky if we qualify for assistance because of our injuries but, you don’t hear us crying. I would go back in a heart beat, if you know what you are doing and you look out for one another, you have a better chance of survival than if you sit and cry and walk around like a coward. I know not everyone can be safe but, these guys have it made and they still cry about it. Anyway, there is no “I” in TEAM. Just remember, you don’t have to like it, you just have to do it.
Yeah, at least they have the option to resign or go..the military has no option but jail or go.
I never had much use for diplomats. If the Poly SCi professor was right that war is the result of failed diplomacy it seems to me that the damn diplomats fail a lot more than they succeed.
I always figured that successful diplomacy was the result of a successful war…
Amazingly ironic it is without a doubt that the people behind the decion making are too pu**y to go to the hornets nest themselves. Surprising? No.
We all know what spineless wussies the politicians and diplomats are for the most part. Not all of them of coarse but many, as this is the very job a guy like Joe Wilson held, and we all know what a puss that man is.
Not to mention the damn embassy smack in the green zone is the safest part of Iraq without even a doubt, they’re just pissed off that they’re not in Paris or some other exotic vacation city living it up pretending to actually be working while cashing that government paycheck like they usually do, thats all.
No surprizes here! I expanding a little on this theme tomorrow with an article titled: “Why 3800 Amercan Troops are Dead in Iraq”.
Once again, I’m beating the drum for mandatory military service. Not a draft… MANDATORY military service… not the Peace Corp. or Americorp or whatever that Clinton version is called, but MILITARY service.
I have no love for the Diplomatic Service anyway. Now you know why!
Best regards!
Longstreet
All these complainers ever wanted was a cushy job with a steady income in some safe place that was warm and had a sandy beach nearby.
Well guess what? There is no safe place in the world today. Not in Iraq or Washington DC.
Quit crying and do what you’re told.
They don’t mind getting their paychecks, then they shouldn’t mind doing their jobs.
I agree with Miss Beth, they are so quick to criticize Blackwater (they SHOULD give our Soldiers the same leeway they give the contractors) - but they depend on them to keep their asses save AND they don’t want to go there.
Bunch of silly cowards. Give them all a burka.
btw - I miss the days when we had more real men around. A little testosterone in the mix does a lot of good for a country.
Hell, what does it pay?
I’ll go for a couple of months.
I hear the people are great and the shopping is like no other place on Earth. I hear everywhere you turn there’s an Iraqi just waiting to give you a great big hug. Our enemies are all gone and everyone is dancing in the streets, it’s just a great big party day after day. WTF, I’m thinking of opening a business in this paradise, let’s see, how about a pulled-pork sandwhich shop. I hear everyone is leaving Islam and becaming Jews and Christains. Iraq has become the beacom of the Universe. Women have thrown their Burgas away for string bikini’s and all the men are running around in Speedo’s with Ipod’s
And then I clicked off the Proctorologist blog.
What a total disgrace they are. Bunch of damned candy ass wimps !
I’m not a diplomat or a soldier, however, I’m willing to pack up right now and go to Iraq and help wherever I could be useful. In fact I have applications in with several PMC’s Blackwater included - it seems that despite 14 years of experience I am too old for some of them. Who ever thought 32 was too old? I wonder if I’m to onld for the National Guard, I know their still sending people over on occasion.
As for the whining “diplomats” the choice is simple, do their jobs or resign. I’m sure we could find a few willing replacements.
If they really want a safe cushy job then the situation in Iraq must maintain it’s improvement and gain even more, that will require diplomacy which of course will require diplomats.
For the ones assigned anywhere in the green Zone it is arguable one of the safest places to be, I think you have a greater chance of being killed in Washington D.C. as it still has an atrocious crime rate last I checked.
Ranando, I am truly LMAO, SHE was the very 1st one that popped into my mind…
I guess I agree with most of the commenters.
I spent three years as a military officer attached to a US Embassy overseas. State department people (US employees) are fully briefed and signed an employment agreement that they will be mobile and go to any country that the government opens an State department office. They get paid well. However, they have one option that we military did not have. They can quit their state department jobs and not be set to jail for doing quitting.
Unfortunately, many of them are liberal pansies looking to see the world at the taxpayers expense. Many of them serving overseas forget they are representing the US interests and not those of the country in which they reside. They are always bucking for the better positions around the globe - as one would expect in this type of work.
Maybe this is good way to cut down on some of the surplus in the State Department - assign them to Iraq. They ones that go without complaining are probably good people. Then like Reagan would have done, send the one’s refusing to fulfill their commitment or complaining home to the US — unemployed and with no right of return to government service and jobs at the taxpayers expense.
Bill Smith for President!
War is hell. But it’s a war was must win at all costs no matter. Or else.
Which explains why we have to use the military instead of diplomacy on many occasions.
Deron must be an old Marine. “You don’t have to like it, you just have to do it” is heard tme and time again in the FMF.
Semper Fi Fred, Keep it up!
“Who’s going to take care of our families if we get hurt or killed”?
The same people I expected to take care of my family during 20+ years of active duty…OUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS. The only thing I expect out of the government is the SGLI check and benefits due my wife and children. As far as that goes, I married a woman and a lady who was able to take care of herself and my son’s. I never worried who would watch over my wife and son’s if something happened to me. Shoot, I could have gotten killed overseas or on my way to work that morning; dead is dead.
Bill Smith is right — and Right. I happen to know some in the so-called “Diplomatic Corps” and it amazes me they are still there. The DC is liberal and Left Wing beyond belief. They find it amazing that they have to conform to standards set by anyone other than themselves. They are self-centered, arrogant, and better than you and me. Just ask them.
To which I say, in summation: fuck you. Suck it up. You takes the Guvmint Dollahs, you takes ya’all chances.
Fuck ya with a hot piece’a rebar.
BZ
Send me coach, send me!
Many want to be diplomats in cushy places with all the perks. The ones who really want to make a difference won’t be whining and crying about this assignment in Iraq.
Nothing more to add here — after what they did to Blackwater, they should go - “protected” by Iraqi security forces. Then we’ll see how fast they beg for our Blackwater guys….
Remember the wise words of Commander Montgomery Scott, chief engineer of the USS Enterprise:
“Diplomats - the best diplomat I know is a fully activated phaser bank.”
Call Director Jack Croddy at 202-647-1318 and let him know what you think.
Well, lets send our 18, 19, & 20 year old kids, right out of high school, and right out of boot camp, to fight a war that they really know NOTHING about. In fact, lets lie to them, tell them that things are improving and the war is under control. We are in full support of you guys, right here from the home front. But, you can’t really expect us to leave our big houses, nice cars, and fancy offices to really promote diplomacy in Iraq…CAN YOU???
….What a load of crap!!!
You said it, Fred - they want the action they started, but not right in their laps. They have made their bed (by failing to diplomize Saddam into submission) so now they have to lay in it.
The numbers speak for themselves - more than 1000 FSOs have voluntarily served in Iraq and more continue to do so all the time. Small compared to the military, but remeber there are more soldiers in the U.S. Army maching bands than Foreign Service Officers worldwide.
I volunteered for a year in Iraq, leaving my wife and two toddlers behind. That tour was bookended by a pair of hardship/danger postings in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East. Fortunately my family was with me then, but keep in mind they voluntarily share the same dangers and hardships I do when posted overseas.
As for some of the complaints at the townhall meeting - I felt the Department made my time in Iraq as good as could reasonably be asked - it is a war after all. Was it hard? Very. Was it a sacrifice and a risk? Of course. Am I convinced our policy there is infallible? Not by a long shot. But, I would not trade my experience there for anything. The job needs to be done and the “public” display at the town hall and Jack Croddy’s comments cheapen the voluntary contribution of those who have served and those who will. There are plenty of FSOs that stand ready to serve side-by-side with service men and women in Iraq, many more who serve in challenging conditions around the world (usually together with their families, although there are still over 800 “unaccompanied” positions), and luckily only a minority who are willing to verbally disgrace the sacrifices and achievements made by the organization as a whole. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of that story when the press covers the State Department in Iraq.
Well stated Abu!