State Dept. Offers Incentives to Get U.S. Diplomats Into Iraq

[babylonsister]

Envoys offered top spots after Baghdad posts

By Nicholas Kralev
August 3, 2007

The State Department is offering some diplomats coveted postings in places like London, Paris and Prague if they first agree to serve a year in Iraq.

The initiative represents the latest attempt to fill vacant positions in Iraq, which has become increasingly unpopular with career Foreign Service officers.

George Staples, director-general of the Foreign Service, announced the policy in a cable message late last week. The policy applies only to midlevel officers because their numbers are most scarce.

"The idea behind linked assignments is that a volunteer for Iraq service will be able to be paneled to an onward assignment at the same time he or she is paneled to Baghdad," according to the message, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Times.

more...

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070803/FOREIGN/108030100/1001

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