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Whoever though diplomats were stupid should read this.

I had a few thoughts on this. Doesn't the President usually pick top campaign donors for diplomatic posts? Can't we get Bush to pick a 'coalition of the willing' from some of his Bush Pioneers? Heck, if they donated more than $200K, we would give them free body armor.:cool:

I am sort of curious. How much extra pay and vacation time?

The good news is that if they go here, they can order this button:

Price of service in the Diplomatic Corps. No big deal, unless you are chosen and don't want to go. I bet they will have plenty of people who will go if selected. That whole service and duty thing that most people don't get.

I think people get it just fine.

Just because people are not falling over each other to go does not mean that when asked they will not go freely when asked or told to go. Most public servants do not go to many ugly places because they are excited about jumping into the fire, but all of them do so freely when asked.

If they don't want to go they can quit. what's the problem?

Pretty much. The risk being it would be a career ender. And the government is very good at making those lists consist of people who would rather go than give up the potential retirement, as well as including those they want to get rid of because they know they will quit rather than go.

It would be a lot more effective if they could make up the lists to include people based on how good they are.

Since almost everyone agrees that the solution to Iraq will be political, it would be comforting to know the embassy is not being used as a dumping ground for the dregs of the diplomatic corps.

sorry....forgot my sarcasm flags.

i think it's bullshit. forced relocation is onething, forced expatriotizationismski is a whole nother kettle of fish.

I don't really agree. If someone joins the diplomatic corps they have to expect to be expatriated. And it isn't all going to be Paris and Vienna; if you don't want to be (occasionally) sent to overseas dumps, you shouldn't join the D.C.
If they don't like it, they have the freedom to quit, which I believe is more than Military people have. Sure, quitting for such a reason may ruin your career in the public service and make it harder to get a good job in the private sector (C'mon, it shows you have judgement)... but I don't think it will "end" your career completely. Not as much as a well-placed IED or mortar round would, anyway.

The way society treats anyone who trys to do good in Iraq it is no surprise to me that people aren't jumping on the plane to go help out what is otherwise a losing cause in the eyes of most Americans.

You mean they don't want to be labeled Big Dics?

Much larger than that. IMHO anyone who supports a positive outcome in Iraq is a warmonger or "Bushie" supporter or a Neocon. And that my friend would be bull shit. I know plenty of very good people who are none of those things, all trying hard to do good work over there. The American public has basically abandoned them in the name of partisan politics.

Excellent point. Speaking for myself, I thought this was was a mistake, it was also executed in a moronic manner.... and Bush is an idiot.

But that said, we broke it, and we have an obligation to find the best outcome we can.

I'm heartened by what tw calls "feel good stories", coming from independent (Mike Yon & friends) sources. Stories that show some understanding of the situation and efforts by our on-the-ground leadership, to do the best they can toward that end.

Of course a storybook ending, where Iraq lives happily ever after, doesn't let Bush off the hook for creating this fiasco.

Actually, Bruce, it does. Think about it.

I can't disagree with any of that. I share your sentiments on all points.