Damage Control: Rice Tries To Quell Revolt Over Forced Iraq Assignments

[babylonsister]

Rice Answers Anger Over Iraq Service


MATTHEW LEE | November 1, 2007 03:30 PM EST | AP

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is trying to quell a revolt among U.S. diplomats angry over attempts to force foreign service officers to work in Iraq under threat of dismissal.

Rice plans to send a cable to all U.S. embassies and missions abroad explaining the decision to begin the largest diplomatic call-up since Vietnam, following a contentious "town hall meeting" at the department where diplomats raised deep concern about being ordered to work in Iraq, the State Department said.

"The secretary is going to send out a cable worldwide to people talking about this decision as well as encouraging people to serve in Iraq," spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters, saying the message would be distributed Thursday.

He stressed the cable was not a "direct response" to Wednesday's unusually hostile session, but that "it speaks to some of the concerns that were aired in that town hall meeting."

Rice, who did not attend the meeting, was also making clear in the cable that foreign service officers have an obligation to uphold the oaths they took to carry out the policies of the government and be available to serve anywhere in the world, McCormack said.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20071101/us-iraq-embassy/

[DrDan]

1. float those job ads over at faux news . . .

they are all dying to go to Iraq . . . (no pun intended)

[robinlynne]

2. ne ne ne ne ne don't want to "uphold the policies of this government"?

Maybe then you need to CHANGE it!

[Blaze Diem]

3. "..have an obligation to uphold the OATHS they took..."

My freakin head is going to explode.
Condi you are such a damn hypocrite.

Makes my ears hurt to listen to any of them. Bush, Condi, whoever. agghhhhhhhhh.

[NewJeffCT]

5. I know, pretty convenient

how she forgets her own oath to protect and defend the Constitution.

[NewJeffCT]

4. Worst Sec. of State ever

Even Tweety put the question out there a week or two back, "Is Condi Rice a failure?"

[WinkyDink]

6. Sometimes it's hard work making one's own reality.

[HereSince1628]

7. Just what IS the ration of State Department fatalities to military fatalities?

And what are the ages of the State Dept personnel getting sent?

I want data because this whole incident leaves me with the feeling that this is just a curfluffal in a coop of chickenhawks.

I know I'm likely wrong, but it just seems that they all want to play in foreign policy but none of them wants to take a risk to undertake that game in the most serious arena of their times. If true their complaint ain't chicken shit its chickenhawk shit.

[EFerrari]

8. What? Aren't there enough geniuses at Free Republic

to "man" those jobs?

:rofl:

[Joanne98]

9. I have a theory about this.........

I think they are trying to get rid of the old timers who haven't been supporting Bush. Just like they did the CIA, the Supreme Court, the US Attorney's and the Pentagon. They want to fill the vacume with Bush loyalists! The ones that don't quit will be killed and then wallaaa...

My advice to them would be BLOW THE WHISTLE!! Document the all the crimes that have been going on and give everything to the bloggers.

[babylonsister]

15. I don't know about that; for months there was a call out for volunteer

diplomats to go to Iraq. They apparently had no takers; who in their right mind wants to be there?

[riverdeep]

10. Now just imagine what's it's like being a soldier.

As a diplomat you're at least guarded and away from the worst of it, although it can come to you. But imagine being a soldier and being forced to seek it out. Were these diplomats out marching and speaking before? Seems like some people stay quiet until it's their ass on the line.

[babylonsister]

14. One big difference as has been pointed out to me: diplomats can quit. nt

[shain from kane]

11. Here's her chance to use some of those diplomatic skills to convince them of the benefits to their

careers.

[malaise]

12. Rice should set an example and volunteer first n/t

[Oilwellian]

13. The embassy needs to close

How many war zones have active US embassies?

[Gman]

16. Strike!

They can't fire all of them. If nobody goes, nobody gets fired.

[Grandrose]

17. Condi is hopeless and hapless!

Should have never been Sec of State, it's the perfect example of the Peter Principle!:eyes:

[Supersedeas]

18. does she have a shred of credibility even within her own department?