Rice Orders Baghdad Embassy Posts Filled

[wakeme2008]

Source: AP

une 20, 2007
Rice Orders Baghdad Embassy Posts Filled
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 6:37 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has ordered U.S. Embassy posts in Baghdad filled ahead of others worldwide, saying it's essential diplomats sent to Iraq be the most qualified.

In a cable sent to all U.S. missions abroad and obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, Rice disclosed a new hiring plan amid increasing criticism of American efforts in Iraq. It is designed to prevent a potential severe vacancy problem and, in part, reduce resistance from anti-war elements in the State Department who have been accused of holding up appointments and discouraging diplomats from going to Iraq.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-US-Baghdad-Embassy.html

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http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/06/slim_chance_of_.html

Slim Chance Of Finding an Arabic Speaker at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad

June 20, 2007 12:09 PM

Jonathan Karl and Maddy Sauer Report:

Of the 1,000 U.S. employees at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, only 10 have a working knowledge of Arabic, according to the State Department.

[Jacobin]

1. She's gonna implement a draft in the State Department?

:rofl:


:rofl:

[Sanity Claws]

2. Unlike the army, people in the state dept. can quit ,

rather than take a posting that is the equivalent of a death sentence. I wonder if she considered whether that might be a reason for the difficulty in filling the positions.

[Javaman]

19. I think I hear the printing press for the free medal is working overtime. LOL nt

[madrchsod]

3. you realize how many people will be leaving state

when they get orders to go to baghdad? my god these people are really getting desperate!

[Demeter]

4. They Are Getting Desperate Because They Can't Find People As Stupid As They

nor any more people they can coerce. They've run through the available victims.

[Barrett808]

11. Why fear a post in Baghdad? Oh, right: "U.S. Embassy employees fearful over Green Zone attacks"

U.S. Embassy employees fearful over Green Zone attacks
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2845557

And then, just a few days later:

The U.S. Embassy says Five Embassy Workers have been Wounded in an Attack Inside Baghdad's Green Zone
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2846296

Please, Condi, sign me up!

[pinniped]

5. I can see how being stuck on a little parcel of land could be fun.

Venture outside, and that's it.

[tanyev]

6. Heckuva job, Condi.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Saddled by the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the State Department faces an acute staff shortage crisis amid "worsening morale," according to a study which blames Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for the problem.

The report by the influential Foreign Affairs Council, comprising senior retired American diplomats and ambassadors, said the department faced a shortage of 1,100 staff and that in the "first two years of Secretary Rice's stewardship almost no net new resources have been realized."

The report said that some 200 existing jobs -- mostly overseas -- were unfilled and than an additional 900 training slots necessary to provide essential "linguistic and functional" skills "do not exist."

"Morale of course is strongly impacted by the fact that we didn't have enough people -- which means that an awful lot of people are pushing it to the limit," Boyatt said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070605/ts_alt_afp/usriceiraqafghanistan

[C_U_L8R]

7. Is that a threat?

[Xipe Totec]

8. Wolfowitz is available and looking for work. Send him nt

[catzies]

12. Can they take Perle & Feith too?

n/t

[saigon68]

26. Maybe Rumsfelt can be recycled

[alfredo]

9. How about recruiting Regent University grads?

[KansDem]

13. LOL!!! Perfect!

One assumes Regent U just graduated the Class of 2007. There should be plenty of applicants! They do so well at the DOJ...

[alfredo]

14. Sheep to the slaughter.

You know sooner or later the Green Zone is going to get hit hard. It is only a matter of time. You know those who live and work there know their days are numbered. They know the rockets and mortars can hit them.

[maddezmom]

17. good idea

:thumbsup:

[Barrett808]

21. Isn't that what they're already doing? n/t

[alfredo]

23. There are about 150 working for the administration that should

be doing their duty by volunteering for duty in the Emerald City (green zone).

[rodeodance]

10. well, they could hire those 60-7- gay Arabic speaking US troops that got the boot!!:

Slim Chance Of Finding an Arabic Speaker at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad

[roody]

15. Lead by example. Pack your bags Kindasleazy.

[karlrschneider]

16. I never believed in demons until I first saw this..."person"

:grr: :puke: :mad:

[Javaman]

18. Damn the white house canine patrol is going to have to work over time, eating that

alpo to shit out enough crap to fill those positions. Those poor dogs.

[Javaman]

20. Siagon 1974. Have I got a job for you!! nt

[donsu]

22. and all food and other supplies have to come into the green zone from outside

by truck or plane.

[Doctor_J]

24. Only 1% have a working knowledge of Arabic

but 100% are "pioneers" or "rangers", the only qulaification for getting a job with the Smirk Crime Family

[LibDemAlways]

25. So they're looking for the "most qualified" people to fill

positions at the embassy? Anyone else think the qualifications are about to be lowered, sort of like the military taking felons and high school drop outs? I have a feeling that some hapless prisoners at jails in DC are going to be given work release furloughs and the title "Diplomat" in the very near future.

[Supersedeas]

27. 1%'ers -- Condi is really all over this