Less Berlin and more Bangkok for US envoys

[occuserpens]

2006-01-21 Changes in the US State Department
Glenn Kessler, Bradley Graham. Less Berlin and more Bangkok for US envoys

[rodeodance]

1. umm..I am thinking many will leave gov. rather than go to these places.

Dr Rice said diplomats would not be promoted to higher ranks unless they accepted assignments in dangerous posts and were fluent in two foreign languages, citing Chinese, Urdu and Arabic as examples.

She noted the US had nearly as many State Department personnel in Germany, which has 82 million people, as in India, with 1 billion people. As a first step, 100 jobs in Europe and Washington will be immediately shifted to expanded embassies in countries such as India, China and Lebanon.

Many of these diplomats had been scheduled to rotate into coveted posts in European capitals this year. Ultimately as many as one-third of the 6400 Foreign Service positions could be affected.

[daleo]

2. There are a lot more U.S. troops in Germany than there are in India

"She noted the US had <more military personnel> in Germany, which has 82 million people, as in India, with 1 billion people. As a first step, <1,000,000 military jobs> in Europe and Washington will be immediately shifted to "expanded embassies" in countries such as India, China and Lebanon <Iran>."