The American Spectator

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Foreign Service Slackers

11.6.07 @ 12:01AM

WUSSES FROM STATE
Re: George H. Wittman's A Revolting Development:

So, 50 slots currently filled by State Dept. career professionals need rotational filling. But the dedicated pros nesting in Washington do not wish to take the places of their veteran colleagues, citing "dangerousness." Well....OK.

In 1990 I knew a Circuit Court judge who was presiding over a session of felony court when he received word that he was involuntarily activated, assigned to a unit that needed legal help and two days later reported for duty in southwest Asia. He left a wife and three young kids. His thinking was: if I don't go, and the person who goes in my stead is killed, how do I look myself in the mirror?. He went....won a Bronze Star for his efforts.

So I say to these wusses from State: "You take the king's shilling, you go where the king sends you." Go....or get out. End of story.
-- J.C. Eaton
Wisconsin

No long drawn out examination of the reasons for State Department personnel not wishing to serve in Iraq is needed. Everyone knows what their reasons are. The fact is that they knew what the rules were when they signed up and if they don't like it, they are free to resign.

The answer, to this problem, is simple. Assign 50 State Department employees to the embassy slots in Iraq. Those that refuse to go, or who fail to perform once there, should be fired for cause. Then pick another group to fill the vacant slots. Follow the same course with them. Eventually, you will fill all the slots and clear out employees who are actively working against the Government of the United States of America in direct violation of their oath of office.

Law enforcement officers are routinely assigned to shifts that they do not want to work, assignments that they do not want to work, areas that they do not want to work and days that they do not want to work. But, they do it without "public" complaint, because that has always been part of the job that they signed up for and they know it. That is known as dedication. If you don't have it, then you should leave and go where you would be happier.

There are a lot of Democratic campaigns going on at the moment, maybe these Whiners at Foggy Bottom should apply to one of them for employment.
-- Michael Tobias
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

I witnessed Croddy's disgraceful performance on Fox News. This coward needs to realize that in life one must take the bad with the good. Not everyone can spend all of their tours in Paris or Rome, any more than a Marine can spend his or her entire career in San Diego or at Camp Pendleton. As it has been said, Foreign Service Officers take an oath to serve where State decides to send them. If these popinjays have no intention of honoring that oath, then they should be cashiered from the Foreign Service forthwith to allow the more deserving to move up. I have seen FSO's at work during overseas and travel time, and some are good and others are fools who "go native," seemingly representing and advocating the interests of their host country rather than the one which signs their paycheck. If Bush and his State Dept. have any kind of cojones (which I have long come to doubt, but there IS always hope at times), then they should weed these poor performers out and hire people who will do the job.
-- D. Moroco
Colonel, USMCR (Ret.)
Quantico, Virginia

I cursed out loud at those State Department cowards when some of this spectacle of self-induced shame was on the news last week! Those poor, privileged, over-paid, under-worked government bureaucrats! Worried about what might happen to their orphans or widows, IF the worst MIGHT happen to them! Young soldiers and Marines, who have not even had the chance to start a family, have been dying daily for over 4 years! And the poor Iraqis are slaughtered in even higher numbers! These State Department weasels need a reality check! Doctor Condoleezza Rice must give them a choice: (1) grow up, shut up, and perform their sworn duty or (2) wear paper bags on their heads as they drop off their resignation letters before close of business today!
-- WO1 David Shoup
Fort Gordon, Georgia
Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran

Please stop spreading the perception that Colombia is a hellhole. I just got back from Colombia and visited the U.S. embassy. Nobody's scared and nobody considers it a bad assignment. It used to be bad, but is no longer. In fact, Colombia's cities are the safest in South America. Believe me, I know.

Venezuela is the crappy diplomatic assignment, not Colombia. In Caracas, armed motorcycle thugs and Cuban agents harass American embassy personnel. In Colombia, U.S. diplomats are welcomed warmly. Why do I write you about this? Because Colombia is trying to get a free trade pact passed and morons on the right still think that Colombia is dangerous, a drug free for all and not worthy of free trade. It's not, and that detestable lie harms our dear ally and makes Hugo Chavez happy. Hugo Chavez is more opposed to Colombia's free trade than anyone. Please don't badmouth Colombia anymore. Badmouth Hugo Chavez. But don't badmouth Colombia. Thanks.
-- Vivita Mora

Like myself (DoD), and these so-called FSOs, every federal government employee takes the oath of office. Part of that oath is to support the Constitution of the United States of America.

Nobody held a gun to the heads of these FSOs when they freely signed up for duty in the State Department. I find it totally reprehensible, unacceptable, and yes, unpatriotic, for these losers to be whining and crying when they are handed an assignment that may not be politically tenable to their "higher morals." Suck it up and do your jobs -- the taxpayers demand no less.

I take the actions of these FSOs (especially on national TV) as an insult. If Sec Rice wants to call on me to serve in SWA, I'll salute and serve immediately.

Letter to the Editor

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