Angry US Diplomats On Forced Iraq Posts: It's A "Potential Death Sentence"

AP   |  MATTHEW LEE   |   October 31, 2007 02:28 PM


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Several hundred U.S. diplomats vented anger and frustration Wednesday about the State Department's decision to force foreign service officers to take jobs in Iraq, with some likening it to a "potential death sentence."

In a contentious hour-long "town hall meeting" called to explain the step, these workers peppered the official who signed the order with often hostile complaints about the largest diplomatic call-up since Vietnam. Announced last week, it will require some diplomats - under threat of dismissal _ to serve at the embassy in Baghdad and in so-called Provincial Reconstruction Teams in outlying provinces.

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- sugarmoes See Profile I'm a Fan of sugarmoes permalink

hasn't bush just been such a tremendous success? goooooolllllllllly sarge!

barf.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:16 AM on 11/01/2007
- DocSarvis See Profile I'm a Fan of DocSarvis permalink

If I worked at State, one reason I wouldn't want to go to Iraq is because Blackwater's goons would be the ones "protecting" me.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:02 AM on 11/01/2007
- dd39203 See Profile I'm a Fan of dd39203 permalink

This is a sad situation. I feel for the diplomats, but we do need diplomats who can speak the language to help us out of this mess -- so we can solve problems without shooting first. I just wish they would have been brave enough to speak out and come forth before. This war needs to be resolved and diplomats are one of the ways to go.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:56 AM on 11/01/2007
- politicalcentrist See Profile I'm a Fan of politicalcentrist permalink

Let's give these poor folks a few quotes for solace in their hours of quaking cowardice:
"We do know that Saddam is actively pursuing a nuclear weapon" C. Rice 9/10/02
"We will in fact be greeted as liberators" Cheney 3/16/03
"I think that it will go rather quickly...weeks rather than months" Cheney 3/16/03
"We believe Saddam has in fact reconstituted nuclear weapons" Cheney 3/16/03
"We know where the WMDs are" Rumsfeld 3/30/03
"We found the weapons of mass destruction" Bush 5/29/03
"There's no question that Saddam had alQueda ties" Bush 9/17/03
"Boo frickin' Hoo" Dr. Evil in "Austin Powers" 1997
Only Dr. Evil was telling the truth.
Get your sorry asses over to the Green Zone, and show us that you have half of the bravery and dedication that we get from our soldiers outside of that safe haven every day.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:48 AM on 11/01/2007
- Ihaveadream See Profile I'm a Fan of Ihaveadream permalink

What's not to love. Here's the latest photos of their new embassy courtesy the current issue of Vanity Fair:

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/11/langewiesche200711

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:48 AM on 11/01/2007
- Ammobob See Profile I'm a Fan of Ammobob permalink

Well, darn it! They can resign, can't they? Stop your WHINING! Next you'll be posting on HuffPo with the rest of the WHINERS.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:42 AM on 11/01/2007
- OilWarsDotCom See Profile I'm a Fan of OilWarsDotCom permalink

What a bunch of pussys!!!!! You work for a killer, don't you expect to get your hands dirty as well? Go over to Iraq and die for bush's oil wars, you gutless wonders....Hey, you could quit and get a job in WallyMart, right?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:18 AM on 11/01/2007
- Sundialsvc4 See Profile I'm a Fan of Sundialsvc4 permalink

How very peculiar ...

... to hundreds of thousands of Americans, it has already been a Death Sentence.

What do you fear?

And if you fear it so, when it finally applies to your OWN skin, why have you for so long been so uninterested about the skin of OTHERS?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:58 AM on 11/01/2007
- RadicalRepublican See Profile I'm a Fan of RadicalRepublican permalink

...it will require some diplomats _ under threat of dismissal _ to serve at the embassy in Baghdad and in reconstruction teams in outlying provinces...

Tell it to a soldier or marine who'd like to leave without being court martialed. What's the threat again? You may lose your cushy job. Sorry, it was diplomats who executed NAFTA. It was also career diplomats who didn't speak out about the truth in Iraq circa 2002/2003. You won't find much sympathy here.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:55 AM on 11/01/2007
- PODdem See Profile I'm a Fan of PODdem permalink

Well I guess it is time for them to cut bait or start fishing. Crap or get off the pot. According to their Commander Guy everything is going great and they can help water the seeds of democracy there.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:54 AM on 11/01/2007
- DJBrunner See Profile I'm a Fan of DJBrunner permalink

I especially liked the comment 'State Department spokesman Sean McCormack acknowledged the session was "pretty emotional." He praised Thomas for holding it and he stressed that all diplomats sign an oath to serve, obligating them to be available to work anywhere'.
While that may be true, it's just another case of hypocrisy by members of this criminal administration. Since when does an oath mean anything to these people, after all, didn't the President & Vice-President take an oath to uphold the Constitution? How's that oath coming along?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:53 AM on 11/01/2007
- booker52 See Profile I'm a Fan of booker52 permalink

Nothing says wrong like your own employees!!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:43 AM on 11/01/2007
- polish See Profile I'm a Fan of polish permalink

What's so difficult? Make the republican diplomats go. They want the war and want to be there.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:39 AM on 11/01/2007
- BC33 See Profile I'm a Fan of BC33 permalink

Hmmmm, does Blackwater have private diplonats Bush can hire? Is he trying to privatize the Embassy? Get rid of the current employees and high Erik Prince's friend.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:21 AM on 11/01/2007
- FirstShirt See Profile I'm a Fan of FirstShirt permalink

Don't like your job, quit. You weren't drafted.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:04 AM on 11/01/2007
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