Diplomats Rebel Against Being Forced to Serve in Iraq ---->>>

[Stephanie]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/31/AR2007103101626.html?hpid=topnews

Envoys Resist Forced Iraq Duty
Top State Dept. Officials Face Angry Questions

Uneasy U.S. diplomats yesterday challenged senior State Department officials in unusually blunt terms over a decision to order some of them to serve at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad or risk losing their jobs.

***

Service in Iraq is "a potential death sentence," said one man who identified himself as a 46-year Foreign Service veteran. "Any other embassy in the world would be closed by now," he said to sustained applause.

Harry K. Thomas Jr., the director general of the Foreign Service, who called the meeting, responded curtly. "Okay, thanks for your comment," he said, declaring the town hall meeting over.

In notices e-mailed to Foreign Service officers around the world late Friday night, Thomas wrote that State had decided to begin "directed assignments" to fill an anticipated shortfall of 48 diplomats in Iraq next summer. Separate e-mail letters were sent to about 250 officers selected as qualified for the posts. If enough of them did not volunteer, the letters said, some would be ordered to serve there

***

The session began sedately. "We are the Foreign Service and the Civil Service of the United States of America," Thomas told them. "I am very proud of you. There is none better."

But he got quickly to the point. "We have 250 jobs to fill in the summer of '08 in Iraq," he said. "We have filled a little over 200."

***

Many in the audience appeared initially reluctant to ask questions, according to several who attended. "I assure you you're not going to be punished or placed on a list," Thomas invited.

AUDIO: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/audio/2007/10/31/AU2007103102620.html?hpid=topnews



http://news.yahoo.com/photo/071027/photos_wl_afp/909a1784473f6ac6845a882c0d04dadd

[BrklynLib at work]

1. Now we need soldiers to do the same...

"What if they gave a war and no one came??"

[Stephanie]

3. Sir! No Sir!

Great docu, if you haven't seen it.

[Atman]

2. This is HUGH. Seriesly.

They are being forced to go into a death zone wholly unprepared. It's not even as if their soldiers who knew that they were going into battle...these are DIPLOMATS who will be placed directly into the path of falling bombs. And for what? It's not as if there is any "diplomacy" going on over there! But I guess they have those fancy new digs, might as well fill 'em up. After all, BushCo promised McDonalds and Pizza Hut a certain amount of business if they'd set up shop. Won't happen without a bunch of cowering diplomats to buy their crappy food.

.

[Stephanie]

4. It's a draft for the diplomats.

Who's next?

[TwilightGardener]

5. Not only is this an embarrassment for BushCo, but it belies the suggestion

that Iraq is less dangerous, no matter what the monthly death tolls say--these State Dept. folks have to know more than we do. They're envisioning mortar attacks, kidnappings, roadside bombs--they know how bad it might get, especially when the artificial security situation that the Surge created is dismantled.

edit to add: They are also afraid of the Shia retribution if/when we bomb Iran.

[Stephanie]

7. A diplomat in the article says she came home from Basra with PTSD

And could not get treatment. Amazing.

[Bitwit1234]

6. I guess republicans CAN and DO approve of whether they

have to serve their country....didn't bush, cheney and rove refuse to serve in Viet Nam and get away with it....guess these diplomats will also..And we will probably have a lot of Democrats drafted into these type of jobs now.

You don't think republicans would really send their own to war.

[Stephanie]

8. 250 diplomats required

Does any other embassy have a staff that large?

[TwilightGardener]

9. Biggest.. Embassy.. In The Wooorrrrrrllllllddd!!! (as Keith would say).

[Stephanie]

10. And empty.

Perfect.

[Stephanie]

11. MSNBC is playing the audio right now.

I wonder how they got that?

[Stephanie]

12. Listen to the audio - they are pissed.

How did this audio get out???

[Stephanie]

13. K

This is kind of astounding...