(Helsinki) US Embassy official transferred to Iraq after criticising political appointees

[deadparrot]

Source: Helsingin Sanomat

When it's stormy out there, a chilly wind blows in Finland, too. At least this is the impression given by developments within the local diplomatic corps. The internal pressures in other nations have led to some sudden vacancies at embassies and consulates in Helsinki and in other capitals.

One of the leavers is William Davnie, a former Press and Cultural Affairs Counsellor at the United States Embassy in Helsinki. Davnie was recently transferred from Finland to Iraq. Various sources have told Helsingin Sanomat that before his transfer to Baghdad in early April, Davnie had found himself at odds with US Ambassador Marilyn Ware.

The US Embassy says that there was nothing exceptional about the move. "A position was offered to him to serve in Iraq and he took it", said Davnie's successor Chad Peterson on behalf of the Ambassador.

Before coming to Finland, Davnie had learned to speak fluent Finnish, which he managed to use in Helsinki for less than two years before his instant transfer to Iraq, and from there to early retirement in the summer.

Read more: http://www.hs.fi/english/article/1135227349664

[Eugene]

1. Did the State Dept. also volunteer him to oversee projects outside the Green Zone?

Now we know how the Bush Administration will find
people to work in Iraq.

[Supersedeas]

9. Condi must be laughing behind those Gucci sunglasses--summer vacation in Spain on the taxpayers dime

anyone?

[PSPS]

2. It just gets more Nazi-like by the day. This guy was sent "to the eastern front" as punishment.

[IndianaGreen]

3. Iraq is the new version of Germany's Russian Front

Malcontents will soon find themselves in Iraq as punishment for their disloyalty.

[Richard Steele]

6. That's just about exactly right.

Surely no one actually thinks this was a normal everyday transfer.
Especially when he immediately takes early retirement.

[Nihil]

8. Yep.

Being transferred immediately to the Eastern Front not only as
punishment (yes, you'll retire if you survive) but also
"pour encourager les autres" ...

Now which regime does this remind you of?

[rodeodance]

4. well gee folks--------you know they need lots of Finnish translators in Iraq

[Renew Deal]

5. That's kind of funny.

:hurts:

[alfredo]

7. During the Vietnam disaster, if a soldier in our unit lost his

security clearance, he was immediately transferred to infantry and sent to Nam. Not one received infantry training. Losing your clearance was in effect, a death sentence.

[Roland99]

10. Marilyn Ware, eh? That name sounds familiar. Ah HA! Bush "Pioneer"!!!

GOP Creating Own '527' Groups
Unregulated Funds Can Be Raised
By Thomas B. Edsall
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 25, 2004; Page A15
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52857-2004May24.html

Republicans who once vigorously opposed the fundraising and spending activities of mostly liberal groups who have been working to defeat President Bush are developing ambitious plans to raise unregulated "soft money" before the November election. The Federal Election Commission earlier this month cleared the way for liberal groups to continue raising millions in unrestricted contributions, and now GOP groups are joining in.

...

In the 2000 campaign, Francis came up with the idea of calling those who raised at least $100,000 for Bush "Pioneers."

Francis said he raised some money for Bush early in the current campaign but has not been active since then because he knew that he might be needed in helping out a separate, "independent" campaign and it was important to keep his distance from Bush-Cheney '04.

McCabe said Francis and Cicconi are both PFA board members, along with C. Boyden Gray, White House counsel in the administration of George H.W. Bush, and Marilyn Ware, chairman of American Water in Pennsylvania. Ware has raised at least $100,000 for the current Bush-Cheney campaign and has qualified as a Pioneer. Francis said he has agreed to help but has not yet agreed to an official role.

[hedgehog]

11. The saddest fact? he was probably the most competent person in Iraq! nt