Neo-Neocon ("to tell the tale of my political change and provide a forum for others") continued to exhibit exquisite good common sense.
Money quote(s):
"I consider it a non-issue at this point, except as it’s being used to discredit perceptions of Republicans and people on the Right as crazies.
I also believe–along with several commenters on this thread, that the consequences of a finding that he’s not a natural born citizen would be chaotic, and his replacement would hardly be better than he is. "
"I believe that it is highly likely that Obama was born in Hawaii, just as he’s claimed. That said, I also think it is very odd that he has refused so far to release the long form of his birth certificate (if those who say that Obama and only Obama could obtain a copy from the state of Hawaii, and that the long form is different from and more complete than the certificate of live birth that he has already offered of us, are correct)."
&
"This has nothing to do with whether Obama was born in Hawaii, as I’ve noted. It has everything to do with transparency, however. And it has everything to do with the failure of the press to do its job."
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
re: "Birther Conspiracy: Putting It to Rest or Fanning the Flames?"
DRJ guest-posted at Patterico's Pontifications ("Harangues that Just Make Sense") and informed us about some pending legislation.
Money quote(s):
"Several sponsors say their goal is to put to rest any Presidential birth conspiracy theories, but Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee described it as a bid to impeach Obama’s birthright as the first black president."
It would seem to me that, since the Constitution forbids any ex-post-facto laws, that such a law would hardly provide grounds for impeachment, but would perhaps pose an obstacle in a re-election bid.
Money quote(s):
"Several sponsors say their goal is to put to rest any Presidential birth conspiracy theories, but Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee described it as a bid to impeach Obama’s birthright as the first black president."
It would seem to me that, since the Constitution forbids any ex-post-facto laws, that such a law would hardly provide grounds for impeachment, but would perhaps pose an obstacle in a re-election bid.
re: "The Importance of Making a Good First Impression"
NoDoubleStandards at Calling a Spade a Spade ("Rants of a Foreign Service Officer on the things that matter to you -- and matter to you not at all") had some great suggestions for first-line consular managers.
Money quote(s):
"As the wave of anticipation which began with the first day of A-100 crests with the arrival of Flag Day, for those who did not choose consular as their cone, one of the greatest hopes among junior officers about to be assigned to their first posts is this: will I luck out and avoid a consular tour my first time out?"
If anything, not getting consular assignment the first time out puts an entry-level officer at a major disadvantage the first time they are the embassy's duty officer at their first post, having had minimal preparation for dealing with late night calls from distressed American travelers, &tc.
Consular experience will stand every FSO in good stead throughout their careers for just that reason.
".... the reputation consular work still has as salt mine labor, where only sadomasochists spend the bulk of their careers. For everyone else, it's a purgatory one must endure before entering the "promised land" of work in your chosen cone.Think about what a challenge a consular manager faces when she receives a first-tour officer at post full of disappointment that he didn't at least score a rotational job: unhappy, unmotivated, perhaps, and looking to make this a relatively painless two years that will fly by quickly."
The challenge these new FSO's bosses have is to turn the "fly by quickly" and "relatively painless" expectation into something closer to "how do I make the most of this experience."
"(P)eople choose cones based on their own personal interests, their motivations and their personalities. A consular manager can't be expected to convert all his FAST officers into clones of Maura Harty. That said, if a consular officer doesn't appreciate with appropriate gravity the formative role he fills in the careers of the State Department's future leaders, he does us all a great disservice."
"The political section won't want to hear this, but ACS is hands down the most important work done overseas. How many congressionals do you get over botched or insufficient political reporting? And visas? These officers are the first line of defense in protecting our borders. The work consular officers do directly impacts American lives and the security of our nation in tangible -- not theoretical -- ways."
&
"(T)he accolades I treasure most are those I've received doing work that was extremely challenging for me -- jobs where I really felt like a fish out of water.
As officers who recognize the importance if the work CA does, we need to appreciate that the stint of every FAST officer who does consular work matters. Not one should leave their obligatory consular tours vowing never to have a thing to do with consular again. We need to be forward-thinking, understanding that those first two tours often set the tone for an entire career and leave lasting impressions of consular managers and consular work."
I agree about the accolades. When an experienced PD officer (one of the old-timers who came over from USIA) whom I'd worked with as a control officer encouraged me to bid on Public Diplomacy jobs because he thought I handled PD well, that made my month.
Money quote(s):
"As the wave of anticipation which began with the first day of A-100 crests with the arrival of Flag Day, for those who did not choose consular as their cone, one of the greatest hopes among junior officers about to be assigned to their first posts is this: will I luck out and avoid a consular tour my first time out?"
If anything, not getting consular assignment the first time out puts an entry-level officer at a major disadvantage the first time they are the embassy's duty officer at their first post, having had minimal preparation for dealing with late night calls from distressed American travelers, &tc.
Consular experience will stand every FSO in good stead throughout their careers for just that reason.
".... the reputation consular work still has as salt mine labor, where only sadomasochists spend the bulk of their careers. For everyone else, it's a purgatory one must endure before entering the "promised land" of work in your chosen cone.Think about what a challenge a consular manager faces when she receives a first-tour officer at post full of disappointment that he didn't at least score a rotational job: unhappy, unmotivated, perhaps, and looking to make this a relatively painless two years that will fly by quickly."
The challenge these new FSO's bosses have is to turn the "fly by quickly" and "relatively painless" expectation into something closer to "how do I make the most of this experience."
"(P)eople choose cones based on their own personal interests, their motivations and their personalities. A consular manager can't be expected to convert all his FAST officers into clones of Maura Harty. That said, if a consular officer doesn't appreciate with appropriate gravity the formative role he fills in the careers of the State Department's future leaders, he does us all a great disservice."
"The political section won't want to hear this, but ACS is hands down the most important work done overseas. How many congressionals do you get over botched or insufficient political reporting? And visas? These officers are the first line of defense in protecting our borders. The work consular officers do directly impacts American lives and the security of our nation in tangible -- not theoretical -- ways."
&
"(T)he accolades I treasure most are those I've received doing work that was extremely challenging for me -- jobs where I really felt like a fish out of water.
As officers who recognize the importance if the work CA does, we need to appreciate that the stint of every FAST officer who does consular work matters. Not one should leave their obligatory consular tours vowing never to have a thing to do with consular again. We need to be forward-thinking, understanding that those first two tours often set the tone for an entire career and leave lasting impressions of consular managers and consular work."
I agree about the accolades. When an experienced PD officer (one of the old-timers who came over from USIA) whom I'd worked with as a control officer encouraged me to bid on Public Diplomacy jobs because he thought I handled PD well, that made my month.
re: "Obama's Aunt Zeituni is Back in Boston"
TSB at The Skeptical Bureaucrat ("Giving my fellow Americans the view from my cubicle") had an update on a famous visa overstay case.
Money quote(s):
"Ms. Zeituni Onyango, the Kenyan Aunt of the President of the United States (KAOPOTUS) and our nation's foremost immigration scofflaw, is back in Boston and living in public housing again while preparing for her next deportation hearing"
&
"(H)er next hearing is scheduled for April Fools Day. If an immigration judge rewards her decade of law-breaking with a grant of asylum, I don't know who will be the bigger fools: the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, or the millions of immigrants who went to the trouble of complying with U.S. laws over the past ten years."
Money quote(s):
"Ms. Zeituni Onyango, the Kenyan Aunt of the President of the United States (KAOPOTUS) and our nation's foremost immigration scofflaw, is back in Boston and living in public housing again while preparing for her next deportation hearing"
&
"(H)er next hearing is scheduled for April Fools Day. If an immigration judge rewards her decade of law-breaking with a grant of asylum, I don't know who will be the bigger fools: the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, or the millions of immigrants who went to the trouble of complying with U.S. laws over the past ten years."
Saturday, August 29, 2009
re: "Honduras coup: Nice job, but here's how to do it better next time"
J Michael Waller at PoliticalWarfare.Org ("Words, images and ideas as tools of first resort.") had some suggestions for Honduras.
Money quote(s):
"How different modern Latin American history would be if the US had backed the brave Venezuelan officers and civilians who dared challenge the man who would abuse the democratic system to become an aggressive dictator.
Across Latin America, the Chavez model of political subversion of existing democratic and legal structures is taking root, with extremists taking power through Venezuelan petrodollar-funded covert operations to topple pro-western governments and create a Bolivarian "near abroad."
The US has done nothing to try to stem the trend. Nothing. Democrat or Republican - American leaders have handed the playing field over to Chavez and his Cuban and Iranian allies. It's been a pathetic show.
How refreshing it was to see that humble Honduras is the only country in the region not to lose its political cojones and that, to keep its Chavez-backed president from violating the constitution, its other institutions acted.
"It's all about process. As Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush proved in Venezuela, it's not really democracy that the US wants. It's legalistic process that matters. Just like the bureaucrat who doesn't care if you've really complied with a regulation, all that matters is the piece of paper that certifies that you did comply. Whether or not you really did. So Chavez can build his dictatorship simply by working through the democratic system and subverting it, and his model has been replicated again and again in the Americas. All to the cheer of do-gooders and demokracy-uber-alles fanatics alike.
And when the Good Guys step in to stop the nonsense, they are condemned because they are working outside The Process."
&
"Zelaya is a nut and illegal political agent of a foreign power who has alienated practically everyone in Honduras. He can hardly get TV time. His own party unanimously abandoned him, voting to agree to his resignation and the alleged "coup." The rest of the democratically elected congress called on the military to take action against him, too. So did the Supreme Court."
Money quote(s):
"How different modern Latin American history would be if the US had backed the brave Venezuelan officers and civilians who dared challenge the man who would abuse the democratic system to become an aggressive dictator.
Across Latin America, the Chavez model of political subversion of existing democratic and legal structures is taking root, with extremists taking power through Venezuelan petrodollar-funded covert operations to topple pro-western governments and create a Bolivarian "near abroad."
The US has done nothing to try to stem the trend. Nothing. Democrat or Republican - American leaders have handed the playing field over to Chavez and his Cuban and Iranian allies. It's been a pathetic show.
How refreshing it was to see that humble Honduras is the only country in the region not to lose its political cojones and that, to keep its Chavez-backed president from violating the constitution, its other institutions acted.
"It's all about process. As Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush proved in Venezuela, it's not really democracy that the US wants. It's legalistic process that matters. Just like the bureaucrat who doesn't care if you've really complied with a regulation, all that matters is the piece of paper that certifies that you did comply. Whether or not you really did. So Chavez can build his dictatorship simply by working through the democratic system and subverting it, and his model has been replicated again and again in the Americas. All to the cheer of do-gooders and demokracy-uber-alles fanatics alike.
And when the Good Guys step in to stop the nonsense, they are condemned because they are working outside The Process."
&
"Zelaya is a nut and illegal political agent of a foreign power who has alienated practically everyone in Honduras. He can hardly get TV time. His own party unanimously abandoned him, voting to agree to his resignation and the alleged "coup." The rest of the democratically elected congress called on the military to take action against him, too. So did the Supreme Court."
National Museum of Scotland (II)
Taken on Chambers Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, on February 20, 2006.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
re: "On The Wrong Side Of The Right Man"
Jude at Hugh Hewett ("A blog of Townhall.Com") provided some illumination about the new Honduran president.
Money quote(s):
"Roberto Micheletti is the legally elected president of Honduras who counts among his allies the Honduran constitution, the rule of law, the Honduran Congress, the Honduran Supreme Court and Catholic Bishops, plus a majority of the Honduran people, including the business and political classes. Meanwhile, perched in Nicaragua and seeking to overturn the constitutional government of Honduras is ousted president Manuel Zalaya. Among his allies are Marxists, despots and cocaine cartels, Hugo Chavez, Daniel Ortega, Castro, and ...President Obama."
&
"How is it possible for our President to get this one so wrong without having ill will toward Honduras and the desires of a democratic people?
Whether the military over-stepped or not by taking Zelaya out of the country, the transfer of power was legally performed."
Money quote(s):
"Roberto Micheletti is the legally elected president of Honduras who counts among his allies the Honduran constitution, the rule of law, the Honduran Congress, the Honduran Supreme Court and Catholic Bishops, plus a majority of the Honduran people, including the business and political classes. Meanwhile, perched in Nicaragua and seeking to overturn the constitutional government of Honduras is ousted president Manuel Zalaya. Among his allies are Marxists, despots and cocaine cartels, Hugo Chavez, Daniel Ortega, Castro, and ...President Obama."
&
"How is it possible for our President to get this one so wrong without having ill will toward Honduras and the desires of a democratic people?
Whether the military over-stepped or not by taking Zelaya out of the country, the transfer of power was legally performed."
re: "Autopsy of the Effort to Expand Membership in the Visa Waiver Program"
NoDoubleStandards at Calling a Spade a Spade ("Rants of a Foreign Service Officer on the things that matter to you -- and matter to you not at all") shared some analysis.
Money quote(s):
"The 9/11 Act fundamentally changed (at least temporarily) the philosophy underpinning VWP. Prior to the passage of the law, VWP was a fairly effective tool facilitating travel of citizens from countries deemed low risk as sources of illegal immigration for economic reasons. The 9/11 Act made security the paramount concern. The Bush administration pushed the idea that citizens of countries who had been allies in the "War on Terror" who do not pose a threat to our national security should be allowed to travel visa-free to the U.S."
Money quote(s):
"The 9/11 Act fundamentally changed (at least temporarily) the philosophy underpinning VWP. Prior to the passage of the law, VWP was a fairly effective tool facilitating travel of citizens from countries deemed low risk as sources of illegal immigration for economic reasons. The 9/11 Act made security the paramount concern. The Bush administration pushed the idea that citizens of countries who had been allies in the "War on Terror" who do not pose a threat to our national security should be allowed to travel visa-free to the U.S."
MDRF is coming!
The Maryland Renaissance Festival (MDRF) begins its 2009 run this weekend.
2009 Schedule
August: 29, 30
September: 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27
October: 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 & 25
Open from 10:00am - 7:00pm.
We open rain or shine.
The Festival opens its thirty-third season at Revel Grove in Crownsville, Maryland o n August 29 for food, fun, fine-crafts and frivolity.
Let Merriment Abound
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
re: "Perhaps it is getting really serious"
sjostrom at Atlantic Blog ("thoughts on politics, economics, and the culture") remarked upon a historical milestone (of sorts).
Money quote(s):
"The fact that the NY Times produced a serious review, rather than hysteria about Islamophobia, says that they are scared and worried."
Money quote(s):
"The fact that the NY Times produced a serious review, rather than hysteria about Islamophobia, says that they are scared and worried."
re: "Obama the Politics of Ambassadorial Appointments"
Charlie J. Brown at Undiplomatic ("dedicated to covering the intersection of foreign policy, global issues, U.S. politics, and pop culture") made a reasonable defense of the administration's ambassadorial appointments thus far.
Money quote(s):
"(S)ome of those appointed by the Obama Administration are foreign policy experts who have a long history of working on the countries and/or issues in question."
&
"The foreign service does an outstanding (and largely unheralded) job of representing U.S. interests overseas. Its members deserve not merely our respect but our admiration. That’s why the list of Obama ambassadorial picks includes a number of distinguished members of the foreign service.
The reality here is that AFSA, which represents the interests of the foreign service, is worried that the foreign service is not getting its traditional share of the pie. They said the same things eight years ago when Bush came to office and sixteen years ago when Clinton got elected. It’s a time-honored Washington ritual."
Money quote(s):
"(S)ome of those appointed by the Obama Administration are foreign policy experts who have a long history of working on the countries and/or issues in question."
&
"The foreign service does an outstanding (and largely unheralded) job of representing U.S. interests overseas. Its members deserve not merely our respect but our admiration. That’s why the list of Obama ambassadorial picks includes a number of distinguished members of the foreign service.
The reality here is that AFSA, which represents the interests of the foreign service, is worried that the foreign service is not getting its traditional share of the pie. They said the same things eight years ago when Bush came to office and sixteen years ago when Clinton got elected. It’s a time-honored Washington ritual."
re: "Day 38 Iranian Revolutiion: Iraq Forces Storm Iranian Opposition Camp"
Pamela at Atlas Shrugs relayed some disturbing news about an attack on some GC "Protected Persons" in Iraq.
This touches on the honor of our country and our commitment to honoring the laws of war.
This touches on the honor of our country and our commitment to honoring the laws of war.
Monday, August 24, 2009
re: "Specialized Interrogation Unit May Be Created"
C.J. at A Soldier's Perspective ("personal information, views and commentary about the military") pretty much made a mockery of this proposal.
This is of a piece of one of our perpetual mistakes: conflating law enforcement solutions to warfare problems.
Money quote(s):
"(T)he Department of Justice will now be leading interrogations ofhigh value targets of military importance. Oh, and these"interrogations" will happen "without the use of coercion." Yeah,good luck with that!"
&
"Anyway the unit should be awesome! Naturally, the administration noted that "based on where things stand now, the CIA isn't slated to be the lead on whatever plan is put into place." Phsaw! Why would ANYONE in their right mind put an agency in charge who only does this sort of thing for a living and has buttloads of experience?! That would just be dumb!"
This is of a piece of one of our perpetual mistakes: conflating law enforcement solutions to warfare problems.
Money quote(s):
"(T)he Department of Justice will now be leading interrogations ofhigh value targets of military importance. Oh, and these"interrogations" will happen "without the use of coercion." Yeah,good luck with that!"
&
"Anyway the unit should be awesome! Naturally, the administration noted that "based on where things stand now, the CIA isn't slated to be the lead on whatever plan is put into place." Phsaw! Why would ANYONE in their right mind put an agency in charge who only does this sort of thing for a living and has buttloads of experience?! That would just be dumb!"
re: "Why Honduras matters"
Neo-Neocon ("to tell the tale of my political change and provide a forum for others") explained the significance of Hondura's "coup".
Money quote(s):
"The summary version: the UN, which is now mostly a vehicle to promote tyranny, wants Zeleya back, whereas patriots in Honduras are working feverishly to prevent their country from becoming another Venezuela. Obama, of course, is on the side of the UN."
"I happen to be in favor of not only democracy, but constitutional checks on the possible tyranny of the majority in a democracy. And I would like to preserve such things even for little countries like Honduras, whose government is trying mightily and heroically to maintain its sovereignty, and to stop those who would usurp its ability to protect itself from that tyranny.
Unfortunately, our very own President Obama is among those people."
"(T)o recognize what’s been occurring there and what it signifies, one must know something about history, most particularly about how such power grabs occur. Then the patterns become clear. "
&
"(T)yrants very often use “democracy” as an excuse to get the people to override a constitution and grant them what turns out to be dictatorial, or near-dictatorial, powers, as well as the ability to extend or abolish term limits and stay in power longer than the constitution says (and in many cases indefinitely). Once the rules are changed about term limits, and power is consolidated and the voting apparatus compromised, staying in power is a relatively easy matter, really a trifle.
Most dictators of recent history have gone this route; the path is well worn and the methods tried and true. Zeleya was attempting to follow in the footsteps of compadre Chavez, and the government and people of Honduras knew it."
Money quote(s):
"The summary version: the UN, which is now mostly a vehicle to promote tyranny, wants Zeleya back, whereas patriots in Honduras are working feverishly to prevent their country from becoming another Venezuela. Obama, of course, is on the side of the UN."
"I happen to be in favor of not only democracy, but constitutional checks on the possible tyranny of the majority in a democracy. And I would like to preserve such things even for little countries like Honduras, whose government is trying mightily and heroically to maintain its sovereignty, and to stop those who would usurp its ability to protect itself from that tyranny.
Unfortunately, our very own President Obama is among those people."
"(T)o recognize what’s been occurring there and what it signifies, one must know something about history, most particularly about how such power grabs occur. Then the patterns become clear. "
&
"(T)yrants very often use “democracy” as an excuse to get the people to override a constitution and grant them what turns out to be dictatorial, or near-dictatorial, powers, as well as the ability to extend or abolish term limits and stay in power longer than the constitution says (and in many cases indefinitely). Once the rules are changed about term limits, and power is consolidated and the voting apparatus compromised, staying in power is a relatively easy matter, really a trifle.
Most dictators of recent history have gone this route; the path is well worn and the methods tried and true. Zeleya was attempting to follow in the footsteps of compadre Chavez, and the government and people of Honduras knew it."
re: "10 Possible Political Reforms"
Mark Noonan at Blogs for Victory ("Where Defeat Is Not An Option") shared some thought-provoking ideas.
Money quote(s):
"9. With the National Guard essentially the ready reserve of the active military, States lack a military force at their disposal in case of emergency (when the emergency comes, it is very likely that the US government will call up the Guard, leaving the State with, perhaps, insufficient military resources) - create State militias made up of older men and women (preferably former service members) who can never be used outside of US territory, but who can backstop the Guard when it is called to active duty and provide an armed security force for static defense (such as guarding ports, airports, bridges, tunnels, etc during a time of external threat to America, itself).
10. Make it illegal for the federal government to ever take more than 30% of a person’s annual income."
Money quote(s):
"9. With the National Guard essentially the ready reserve of the active military, States lack a military force at their disposal in case of emergency (when the emergency comes, it is very likely that the US government will call up the Guard, leaving the State with, perhaps, insufficient military resources) - create State militias made up of older men and women (preferably former service members) who can never be used outside of US territory, but who can backstop the Guard when it is called to active duty and provide an armed security force for static defense (such as guarding ports, airports, bridges, tunnels, etc during a time of external threat to America, itself).
10. Make it illegal for the federal government to ever take more than 30% of a person’s annual income."
re: "Tyranny At Home. Tyranny Abroad."
Scipio at The Return of Scipio ("writing not for fortune or fame but because God is watching") explained what Honduras has to do with liberty.
Money quote(s):
"Who could have guessed that one day little Honduras would be in the news? Who could have guessed that one day little Honduras would be seen as a bulwark against tyranny? Who could have guessed that one day Honduras would stand firm against pressure from the OAS, the UN and the US?"
"Honduras is reliving the ancient struggle between liberty and tyranny. In all of our 6000 years of history liberty has almost always gone down to defeat. Simply put, tyranny has had too much in its favor. Laws were written by tyrants to ensure their hold on power. States would create an apparatus of prisons and police and spies to prop up any dictatorship. All media were placed under the direct scrutiny of those who ruled. These things were as true for Ashurbanipal as they are true for Hugo Chavez. "
&
"The most earth shaking event in secular world history was the creation of the United States of America. It was quite literally “conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Nothing like it had ever come about. From the start she presented to the world a frightening thing, the possibility that the citizens of a nation might actually control the levers of power in a state. If she succeeded she would become a “dangerous nation” and a threat to tyranny around the world. Thus the hatred that European nations had for the new nation. None of them even believed that the US could possibly survive. It was a good thing for them that she did."
Money quote(s):
"Who could have guessed that one day little Honduras would be in the news? Who could have guessed that one day little Honduras would be seen as a bulwark against tyranny? Who could have guessed that one day Honduras would stand firm against pressure from the OAS, the UN and the US?"
"Honduras is reliving the ancient struggle between liberty and tyranny. In all of our 6000 years of history liberty has almost always gone down to defeat. Simply put, tyranny has had too much in its favor. Laws were written by tyrants to ensure their hold on power. States would create an apparatus of prisons and police and spies to prop up any dictatorship. All media were placed under the direct scrutiny of those who ruled. These things were as true for Ashurbanipal as they are true for Hugo Chavez. "
&
"The most earth shaking event in secular world history was the creation of the United States of America. It was quite literally “conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Nothing like it had ever come about. From the start she presented to the world a frightening thing, the possibility that the citizens of a nation might actually control the levers of power in a state. If she succeeded she would become a “dangerous nation” and a threat to tyranny around the world. Thus the hatred that European nations had for the new nation. None of them even believed that the US could possibly survive. It was a good thing for them that she did."
Sunday, August 23, 2009
re: "Killing the Golden Goose"
Baron Bodissey at Gates of Vienna ("At the siege of Vienna in 1683 Islam seemed poised to overrun Christian Europe. We are in a new phase of a very old war.") made some interesting points about Islam being an "Evolutionary Stable System" or ESS.
Money quote(s):
"(B)ecause the system is parasitic — it produces no wealth, but depends on booty, slave labor, and tribute to maintain itself — the environment must eventually change. When the host dies, so does the parasite. The ESS fails, and Islam reaches a dead end."
Money quote(s):
"(B)ecause the system is parasitic — it produces no wealth, but depends on booty, slave labor, and tribute to maintain itself — the environment must eventually change. When the host dies, so does the parasite. The ESS fails, and Islam reaches a dead end."
re: "Obama's Animated Ambassadors"
Tim Kelleher at Big Hollywood had the scoop on some upcoming ambassadorial appointments.
This truly is diplomacy at its most transformative.
Enjoy!
This truly is diplomacy at its most transformative.
Enjoy!
re: "Quickie: Consul-at-Arms' Manner of Substance"
Thanks to Domani Spero at Diplopundit ("Blogging the Foreign Service: Just one obsessive observer, diplomatic watcher, opinionator and noodle newsmaker monitoring the goings on at Foggy Bottom and the worldwide available universe.") for the quote and the link.
It seems to be driving some traffic my way; if I was getting a kickback from Amazon (and Debrett's) for the traffic that's going onwards from my post's book recommendations that'd make a nice piece of change.
By the way, love the "Protocol" graphic from the Goldie Hawn film: that was a great flick!
It seems to be driving some traffic my way; if I was getting a kickback from Amazon (and Debrett's) for the traffic that's going onwards from my post's book recommendations that'd make a nice piece of change.
By the way, love the "Protocol" graphic from the Goldie Hawn film: that was a great flick!
Edinburgh skyline (II)
Taken in Edinburgh, Scotland, on February 20, 2006. The Bank of Scotland is, partially, the right-most building in this frame.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
re: "You Might Not Be A Republican"
Randall Hoven at American Thinker ("a daily internet publication devoted to the thoughtful exploration of issues of importance to Americans") had an absolutely BRILLIANT essay.
Money quote(s):
"If you supported, endorsed and voted for the Democrat for President, you might not be a Republican."
"If you refused to vote for the Republican, a war hero and former POW who had 26 years experience in Congress and one of the more liberal voting records among Republicans in the Senate , because he was too conservative, you might not be a Republican."
&
"If you think a Republican with published SAT scores that imply an IQ of 125-130, or smarter than 95% of the population and in the range of Lincoln, Rousseau and Thackeray, and who graduated from Yale and then earned an MBA from Harvard is stupid, but a Democrat who has not released any of his education records is the smartest President ever, you might not be a Republican. "
Money quote(s):
"If you supported, endorsed and voted for the Democrat for President, you might not be a Republican."
"If you refused to vote for the Republican, a war hero and former POW who had 26 years experience in Congress and one of the more liberal voting records among Republicans in the Senate , because he was too conservative, you might not be a Republican."
&
"If you think a Republican with published SAT scores that imply an IQ of 125-130, or smarter than 95% of the population and in the range of Lincoln, Rousseau and Thackeray, and who graduated from Yale and then earned an MBA from Harvard is stupid, but a Democrat who has not released any of his education records is the smartest President ever, you might not be a Republican. "
Friday, August 21, 2009
re: "We’ll See If The “Perfect” Record Continues"
Robert at Expat Yank ("One American living in the south of England") made a point that seems to be nearly universally overlooked (except by soldiers).
Money quote(s):
"As we know, most in media are perpetually wilting over the fact that the U.S. actually detains enemy who fall into U.S. hands alive. Moreover, they have little to n0thing to say about how nearly all of those the U.S. detains survive to be released."
&
"Insofar as this blog is aware, every single U.S. or coalition soldier captured by the jihadist enemy, has been murdered in captivity. That is a 100 percent record of barbarity unequalled by any enemy in all of human history."
Money quote(s):
"As we know, most in media are perpetually wilting over the fact that the U.S. actually detains enemy who fall into U.S. hands alive. Moreover, they have little to n0thing to say about how nearly all of those the U.S. detains survive to be released."
&
"Insofar as this blog is aware, every single U.S. or coalition soldier captured by the jihadist enemy, has been murdered in captivity. That is a 100 percent record of barbarity unequalled by any enemy in all of human history."
re: "Virgin-Americans Vow Fight Against Cap-and-Trade's Blood Sacrifice Amendment"
Iowahawk shared a very warped sense of humor.
It begins:
"The President's landmark 'Cap and Trade' bill faces an uncertain fate this week, as congressional backers of the carbon-limiting legislation face mounting opposition from a myriad of interest groups angered by its controversial ritual virgin sacrifice provision."
As always, the Devil is in the details.
It begins:
"The President's landmark 'Cap and Trade' bill faces an uncertain fate this week, as congressional backers of the carbon-limiting legislation face mounting opposition from a myriad of interest groups angered by its controversial ritual virgin sacrifice provision."
As always, the Devil is in the details.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
re: "Mark Steyn on MJ's entourage, CNN's airport audience, & Afghanistan's tribes, & Obama getting Honduras wrong."
Mark Steyn had a great couple of quotes on Hugh Hewitt's show last month:
Regarding the media:
"(G)iven that the problems the media have at the moment with their sinking audiences, you can understand why, you know, CNN is dying. If it weren’t for airports, if it weren’t for the fact that America’s lousy airline industry somehow thinks it will put you in a better mood if your three hour delay at the gate is accompanied by three hours of Wolf Blitzer, there would be no audience for CNN. And I think that’s essentially, they seized on this thing as a drowning man clutches a straw. And the straw in this case I think is toxic."
The straw.... is toxic.
Beautiful.
Also, regarding Afghanistan:
"The British concluded that they did not want Afghanistan formally within the British Empire simply because they did not have the will to do what would be necessary to make it a civilized part of the world as they understood it. And so they contented themselves with a more or less friendly regime in Kabul, and essentially tribal regions carrying on pretty much as they always had done. And in a sense, that system worked until the overthrow of the Afghan monarchy in the 1970s. Afghanistan didn’t progress, but in a way, it was manageable. It was kind of super-decentralized. The King’s write didn’t really run thirty miles from the palace. And tribal, local tribal chiefs more or less got on with life as they always had done. And I’m not sure anyone has yet come up with a working model for Afghanistan that is any better than that. And trying to impose order on the Helmand Valley in particular, I think is something that as I said, the British felt that even, who had as much imperialist swagger as anybody, felt that that was even beyond them. And I’m not sure the United States, with its general preference for a light footprint, is likely to be any more successful there."
Read to the very end to catch the bit about Honduras.
Regarding the media:
"(G)iven that the problems the media have at the moment with their sinking audiences, you can understand why, you know, CNN is dying. If it weren’t for airports, if it weren’t for the fact that America’s lousy airline industry somehow thinks it will put you in a better mood if your three hour delay at the gate is accompanied by three hours of Wolf Blitzer, there would be no audience for CNN. And I think that’s essentially, they seized on this thing as a drowning man clutches a straw. And the straw in this case I think is toxic."
The straw.... is toxic.
Beautiful.
Also, regarding Afghanistan:
"The British concluded that they did not want Afghanistan formally within the British Empire simply because they did not have the will to do what would be necessary to make it a civilized part of the world as they understood it. And so they contented themselves with a more or less friendly regime in Kabul, and essentially tribal regions carrying on pretty much as they always had done. And in a sense, that system worked until the overthrow of the Afghan monarchy in the 1970s. Afghanistan didn’t progress, but in a way, it was manageable. It was kind of super-decentralized. The King’s write didn’t really run thirty miles from the palace. And tribal, local tribal chiefs more or less got on with life as they always had done. And I’m not sure anyone has yet come up with a working model for Afghanistan that is any better than that. And trying to impose order on the Helmand Valley in particular, I think is something that as I said, the British felt that even, who had as much imperialist swagger as anybody, felt that that was even beyond them. And I’m not sure the United States, with its general preference for a light footprint, is likely to be any more successful there."
Read to the very end to catch the bit about Honduras.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
re: "France & Belgium; better than the USA?"
CDR Salamander ("Proactively “From the Sea”; leveraging the littoral best practices for a paradigm breaking six-sigma best business case in the global commons, rightsizing the core values supporting our mission statement via the 5-vector model through cultural diversity.") correctly identifies one of our Achilles Heels, especially when it comes to combatting piracy
Money quote(s):
"Our problem? Of course, LAWFARE and the same people who are killing the ability of our doctors to efficiently practice their profession - trial lawyers."
Money quote(s):
"Our problem? Of course, LAWFARE and the same people who are killing the ability of our doctors to efficiently practice their profession - trial lawyers."
re: "Boxer Demotes Herself From 'Ma'am' to 'Senator'"
Jeffrey Jena at Big Hollywood managed to crack the code.
Money quote(s):
"I recently did a show at a military base where the commanding officer was a woman. I was unsure how to address this much decorated military person so I asked a tough-looking guy with a bunch of stripes on his arm to guide me. He told me that “Ma’am” was the proper term of address, just as I would say “Sir” if the commander were a man. Then he added some information for which I had not asked.
“Don’t address her only by her rank.” He said, “That would tell her you think she is a substandard officer.” In the military it seems that insulting an officer to his or her face isn’t tolerated very well. Military people, being a resourceful bunch, have developed a system for letting an officer know that they don’t think too much of them. They use the term of address which least fulfills the requirement of military respect which is using only the person’s title.
Imagine, for example, you are an enlisted man and you are under the command of a Lieutenant Smith. If Lt. Smith is a competent leader you would address him as “Sir,” “LT” or “Lt. Smith.” If Lt. Smith is an arrogant moron you would always address him simply as “Lieutenant.”
So when General Walsh quickly came back with “Senator” and not “Senator Boxer” I laughed because I knew what he meant; this is a substandard person for whom I have no respect!
Let’s all address her as “Senator” from now on."
Money quote(s):
"I recently did a show at a military base where the commanding officer was a woman. I was unsure how to address this much decorated military person so I asked a tough-looking guy with a bunch of stripes on his arm to guide me. He told me that “Ma’am” was the proper term of address, just as I would say “Sir” if the commander were a man. Then he added some information for which I had not asked.
“Don’t address her only by her rank.” He said, “That would tell her you think she is a substandard officer.” In the military it seems that insulting an officer to his or her face isn’t tolerated very well. Military people, being a resourceful bunch, have developed a system for letting an officer know that they don’t think too much of them. They use the term of address which least fulfills the requirement of military respect which is using only the person’s title.
Imagine, for example, you are an enlisted man and you are under the command of a Lieutenant Smith. If Lt. Smith is a competent leader you would address him as “Sir,” “LT” or “Lt. Smith.” If Lt. Smith is an arrogant moron you would always address him simply as “Lieutenant.”
So when General Walsh quickly came back with “Senator” and not “Senator Boxer” I laughed because I knew what he meant; this is a substandard person for whom I have no respect!
Let’s all address her as “Senator” from now on."
The Consul's Files
The newest "must-read" in the consular end of the blogging pool is The Consul's Files.
Madame le Consul is doing a fabulous job of sharing her consular experiences.
Hat tip to Domani Spero at Diplopundit ("Blogging the Foreign Service: Just one obsessive observer, diplomatic watcher, opinionator and noodle newsmaker monitoring the goings on at Foggy Bottom and the worldwide available universe.").
Madame le Consul is doing a fabulous job of sharing her consular experiences.
Hat tip to Domani Spero at Diplopundit ("Blogging the Foreign Service: Just one obsessive observer, diplomatic watcher, opinionator and noodle newsmaker monitoring the goings on at Foggy Bottom and the worldwide available universe.").
re: "A Bureaucrat's Aside re: Politics"
O at The Angry Drunk Bureaucrat ("The Optimist says: "The Glass is Half Full." The Pessimist says: "The Glass is Half Empty." The Bureaucrat says: "What we need are 5 glasses, 1/10th the size." The Angry Drunk Bureaucrat says: "Where's my damned Bourbon?"") shared an insight which stands as the cornerstone of any decent public servant:
"(M)y bureaucratic mentor the One-Eyed Fat Man, when faced with the milquetoast-eries of the upper management of the Federal Government, was fond of saying that he held no political allegiances and that his boss was the U.S. Constitution."
"(M)y bureaucratic mentor the One-Eyed Fat Man, when faced with the milquetoast-eries of the upper management of the Federal Government, was fond of saying that he held no political allegiances and that his boss was the U.S. Constitution."
re: "Iranian "Moderate" Mousavi Belongs in Gitmo"
Confederate Yankee ("Because liberalism is a persistent vegetative state.") was none too pleased at this information.
Money quote(s):
"(T)he "moderate" Iranian opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi is the Butcher of Beirut, responsible for the terrorist attack on the U.S. Marine Corps barracks that killed 241 servicemen."
Just to be clear:
"(T)he Iranian opposition leader already had gallons of U.S. blood on his hands, and is by any rational measure is a terrorist."
Money quote(s):
"(T)he "moderate" Iranian opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi is the Butcher of Beirut, responsible for the terrorist attack on the U.S. Marine Corps barracks that killed 241 servicemen."
Just to be clear:
"(T)he Iranian opposition leader already had gallons of U.S. blood on his hands, and is by any rational measure is a terrorist."
re: "Visa Interview Pet Peeves"
NoDoubleStandards at Calling a Spade a Spade ("Rants of a Foreign Service Officer on the things that matter to you -- and matter to you not at all") shared a great little list.
I can vouch for every single peeve cited.
I can vouch for every single peeve cited.
re: "RealHotdogPolitik Seriously Reconsidered"
Jules Crittenden at Forward Movement ("on politics, crime, science, foreign affairs, and maritime and military matters in the United States, Asia, the Balkans and the Middle East") went negative.
Money quote(s):
"Look, I’m trying to keep the criticism on a constructive level, but I’m rapidly losing confidence in this administration’s ability to manage even something as simple as a Fourth of July picnic without turning it into an international embarrassment."
But ended on a more positive note:
"(T)hey are still our embassies, and as long as there is even a remote a chance any mullahs are going to show up, I think it is important to have a lot of hot babses in American flag bikinis on hand. Don’t care what their politics are, don’t care if they’re French, as long as they’re sporting stars and stripes."
Money quote(s):
"Look, I’m trying to keep the criticism on a constructive level, but I’m rapidly losing confidence in this administration’s ability to manage even something as simple as a Fourth of July picnic without turning it into an international embarrassment."
But ended on a more positive note:
"(T)hey are still our embassies, and as long as there is even a remote a chance any mullahs are going to show up, I think it is important to have a lot of hot babses in American flag bikinis on hand. Don’t care what their politics are, don’t care if they’re French, as long as they’re sporting stars and stripes."
Monday, August 17, 2009
Manners of Substance
As part of the ongoing FS hiring push, the A-100 course (basic training for diplomats, that is; a.k.a. the "Foreign Service Officer Orientation") was recently reduced by about two weeks. That allows the Foreign Service Institute to schedule more training cycles into the training year and get more newly-hired FSOs out to the field sooner.
Some applaud the move, on grounds that the course is too long anyway. It's been awhile since I went through the course, and while my impression is that there are parts that could have the slack tightened out of them, that slack could be profitably employed by additional useful training.
Having knocked around the Foreign Service for a few years now, both as an entry-level officer (ELO, a.k.a. "junior officer") and afterwards, I've had occasion to observe more than once how we (we being those of us already in the Foreign Service) fail to prepare our ELOs for service abroad representing the United States.
One of those areas has to do with manners.
I'm not really talking about etiquette, or perhaps I am, but not as it's taught during the optional one-day class at FSI. That's a useful class as well, if you can remember enough of it by the time you find yourself in a situation where you're not sure which fork to use, or how to set a dinner table properly.
Once upon a time, your humble scribe was stationed overseas with the military. There was a Cold War in progress, something called NATO was taken pretty seriously by its member nations, and the U.S. Army was perfectly serious when it told its teenaged soldiers, fresh from boot camp, that they were American ambassadors. That is, in the dozens of interactions you might have every day with foreign nationals, civilian and military, the impression you left would be the one they had of U.S. soldiers, of the United States Army, and of Americans in general.
If that's true for soldiers, you can magnify its significance for diplomats who really are America's "ambassadors."
In other words, the eyes of Texas are upon you, each and every day. So it's important to make a good impression, or at least not a bad one.
This gets drummed into the minds of consular officers, with respect to the thousands of visa interviews and other professional interactions they have with foreign citizens, but it's equally true beyond the interview window.
For the most part, I think our ELOs do pretty well at this. They try to speak the local languages, eat the local foods, treat people respectfully whether they're shopping in the marketplace or trying to explain to the maid how to change the vacuum cleaner bag.
But at certain public events, some of our ELOs fall short. In many ways it's not really their fault. Let me give a few examples regarding public appearances.
First, each U.S. embassy will receive literally hundreds or even thousands of invitations during any given year. Mostly they're addressed to the ambassador him- (or her-) self but oftentimes will be for various agency or sections heads. Chiefs of consular sections are quite popular in this regard for reasons which should be obvious. The point is that other commitments will often prevent the invitee from attending any particular event and that the invitation can usually be passed to a less senior diplomat within the mission. This accomplishes two things: the embassy shows that it respects the invitation enough to send someone even if the ambassador can't make it as well as giving the less senior diplomat the experience of representing the United States.
So if you're getting these invitations yourself and can't attend for some reason (even though the event or the host is deserving of the U.S. embassy's representation) it's up to you as a supervisor to make sure your junior officers are getting experience at this.
That's a small "m" management issue.
The other issue is just how well are our ELOs prepared to represent the United States at various events. Oh, I'm not talking about the political aspects of who we are or aren't talking to at a given time, or about toeing the talking points correctly. That I think our training covers sufficiently.
What bugs me again and again are the little things that should have been covered in, ohletmesee, elementary school. But then it's my understanding that things like the Pledge of Allegience have been dropped from primary school programs so knowing how to behave when the national anthym (ours, their's, anybodys!) is played is perhaps too much to expect.
So here are some suggestions:
INVOCATIONS & BENEDICTIONS
These are prayers said at the beginning and end of an official program or event.
Show some respect. I don't care what your personal religion is or what you think the Bill of Rights says about not respecting religions (that's not actually what it says, look it up); if the bishop or chaplain or shamen says "Let us pray" (or the local equivalent, then you've got to show that you respect your hosts.
How to do that?
Well, if the prayer is preceded with a request that you "please, rise" then by all means stand up. Stand up straight. Place your feet about shoulder width apart, clasp your hands together and let them fall naturally to your front, and bow your head.
Former military will recognize this as sort of a modified "Parade Rest."
Be aware of your surroundings. If no one else is standing, then by all means stay seated. Place your hands together in your lap and bow your head. When the prayer is over, return to your previous pose.
NATIONAL ANTHYMS
Learn to recognize them, both our own and that of the host country. No one will expect you to sing the local national anthym (it's not yours, after all), but you should recognize it and show respect when it's being played or sung.
How do you do that?
First, about the Star-Spangled Banner. For most of us, particularly men, singing it is difficult due to the key in which it's composed. But if it's being played and you can manage it, by all means sing it. You are, after all, a U.S. diplomat. No one, least of all you, should be offended by your exhibiting a little formal patriotism.
But that's perhaps too advanced for this essay.
Stand up!
Veterans will know what to do: face the U.S. flag (if there is one) or straight ahead and stand at the position of attention and either place your right hand over your left breast (this is the civilian version of a salute). Military personnel in uniform will perform a military-style salute; this is now also an option for veterans either in uniform or out.
Non-veterans sometimes need a little help with this. Once standing, face the U.S. flag (if there is one) or straight ahead, place the heels (no clicking!) of your shoes together with your feet at a 45 degree angle, hold your head and face straight to the front, and let your arms fall naturally to your sides. Let your fingers curl inwards a bit and align your thumbs along the outer seams of your trousers before placing your right hand over your left breast.
When the song is over let your right hand fall naturally to the right side before relaxing your overall posture.
Believe me, no one is going to mistake a non-veteran FSO for some sort of militarized robot, but they are going to notice that you respect your own national anthym (and theirs).
For national anthyms other than the Star Spangled Banner, do just as for our own but omit the hand salute portion.
FLAGS
Flag ceremonies are often combined with the playing of a national anthym, so refer to the guidance above. Basically, if a color guard is presenting a national flag or passing in a parade, stand at attention. Only salute if it's the U.S. flag, but show your hosts at least the respect of standing up straight. Be aware of how the other guests or audience respond, but also be aware that some of them will be taking their cue on how to act from you.
SPEAKERS
I recently was at an Independence Day reception (one of our own), and while the chief of mission was giving his speech, ELOs at the back of the event venue were eating and talking among themselves. Perhaps they thought that the invited guests listening politely to the speech only a very few feet away from them were somehow deaf in that direction. I just don't know. But this is not a career enhancing move, no matter how hungry you are or how good the food is.
If someone is giving a speech, turn your fool cell phone to vibrate only. People will understand if you pull out your phone and look at it, even get up and head towards and exit. After all, diplomats can get genuinely emergent calls at any time and no one should get bent out of shape. But if the prime minister's speech is interrupted by the American vice consul's cell phone everyone is going to remember it.
Yes, lots of local guests will fail to heed this and their cell phones will ring and they may or may not be embarrassed. Don't worry about them; worry about you. And worry about your reputation.
REFERENCES
Every FSO should own a copy of Protocol. Any of the several editions will suffice. Short of an assignment as a staff assistant or protocol officer, no one will expect you to have memorized it, but you should read through it once just so you are at least familiar with the contents for later on when you realize you need to look something up.
Also highly recommended is Service Etiquette. For those of you serving in Commonwealth countries, I would also heartily commend to you any of Debrett's publications.
Some applaud the move, on grounds that the course is too long anyway. It's been awhile since I went through the course, and while my impression is that there are parts that could have the slack tightened out of them, that slack could be profitably employed by additional useful training.
Having knocked around the Foreign Service for a few years now, both as an entry-level officer (ELO, a.k.a. "junior officer") and afterwards, I've had occasion to observe more than once how we (we being those of us already in the Foreign Service) fail to prepare our ELOs for service abroad representing the United States.
One of those areas has to do with manners.
I'm not really talking about etiquette, or perhaps I am, but not as it's taught during the optional one-day class at FSI. That's a useful class as well, if you can remember enough of it by the time you find yourself in a situation where you're not sure which fork to use, or how to set a dinner table properly.
Once upon a time, your humble scribe was stationed overseas with the military. There was a Cold War in progress, something called NATO was taken pretty seriously by its member nations, and the U.S. Army was perfectly serious when it told its teenaged soldiers, fresh from boot camp, that they were American ambassadors. That is, in the dozens of interactions you might have every day with foreign nationals, civilian and military, the impression you left would be the one they had of U.S. soldiers, of the United States Army, and of Americans in general.
If that's true for soldiers, you can magnify its significance for diplomats who really are America's "ambassadors."
In other words, the eyes of Texas are upon you, each and every day. So it's important to make a good impression, or at least not a bad one.
This gets drummed into the minds of consular officers, with respect to the thousands of visa interviews and other professional interactions they have with foreign citizens, but it's equally true beyond the interview window.
For the most part, I think our ELOs do pretty well at this. They try to speak the local languages, eat the local foods, treat people respectfully whether they're shopping in the marketplace or trying to explain to the maid how to change the vacuum cleaner bag.
But at certain public events, some of our ELOs fall short. In many ways it's not really their fault. Let me give a few examples regarding public appearances.
First, each U.S. embassy will receive literally hundreds or even thousands of invitations during any given year. Mostly they're addressed to the ambassador him- (or her-) self but oftentimes will be for various agency or sections heads. Chiefs of consular sections are quite popular in this regard for reasons which should be obvious. The point is that other commitments will often prevent the invitee from attending any particular event and that the invitation can usually be passed to a less senior diplomat within the mission. This accomplishes two things: the embassy shows that it respects the invitation enough to send someone even if the ambassador can't make it as well as giving the less senior diplomat the experience of representing the United States.
So if you're getting these invitations yourself and can't attend for some reason (even though the event or the host is deserving of the U.S. embassy's representation) it's up to you as a supervisor to make sure your junior officers are getting experience at this.
That's a small "m" management issue.
The other issue is just how well are our ELOs prepared to represent the United States at various events. Oh, I'm not talking about the political aspects of who we are or aren't talking to at a given time, or about toeing the talking points correctly. That I think our training covers sufficiently.
What bugs me again and again are the little things that should have been covered in, ohletmesee, elementary school. But then it's my understanding that things like the Pledge of Allegience have been dropped from primary school programs so knowing how to behave when the national anthym (ours, their's, anybodys!) is played is perhaps too much to expect.
So here are some suggestions:
INVOCATIONS & BENEDICTIONS
These are prayers said at the beginning and end of an official program or event.
Show some respect. I don't care what your personal religion is or what you think the Bill of Rights says about not respecting religions (that's not actually what it says, look it up); if the bishop or chaplain or shamen says "Let us pray" (or the local equivalent, then you've got to show that you respect your hosts.
How to do that?
Well, if the prayer is preceded with a request that you "please, rise" then by all means stand up. Stand up straight. Place your feet about shoulder width apart, clasp your hands together and let them fall naturally to your front, and bow your head.
Former military will recognize this as sort of a modified "Parade Rest."
Be aware of your surroundings. If no one else is standing, then by all means stay seated. Place your hands together in your lap and bow your head. When the prayer is over, return to your previous pose.
NATIONAL ANTHYMS
Learn to recognize them, both our own and that of the host country. No one will expect you to sing the local national anthym (it's not yours, after all), but you should recognize it and show respect when it's being played or sung.
How do you do that?
First, about the Star-Spangled Banner. For most of us, particularly men, singing it is difficult due to the key in which it's composed. But if it's being played and you can manage it, by all means sing it. You are, after all, a U.S. diplomat. No one, least of all you, should be offended by your exhibiting a little formal patriotism.
But that's perhaps too advanced for this essay.
Stand up!
Veterans will know what to do: face the U.S. flag (if there is one) or straight ahead and stand at the position of attention and either place your right hand over your left breast (this is the civilian version of a salute). Military personnel in uniform will perform a military-style salute; this is now also an option for veterans either in uniform or out.
Non-veterans sometimes need a little help with this. Once standing, face the U.S. flag (if there is one) or straight ahead, place the heels (no clicking!) of your shoes together with your feet at a 45 degree angle, hold your head and face straight to the front, and let your arms fall naturally to your sides. Let your fingers curl inwards a bit and align your thumbs along the outer seams of your trousers before placing your right hand over your left breast.
When the song is over let your right hand fall naturally to the right side before relaxing your overall posture.
Believe me, no one is going to mistake a non-veteran FSO for some sort of militarized robot, but they are going to notice that you respect your own national anthym (and theirs).
For national anthyms other than the Star Spangled Banner, do just as for our own but omit the hand salute portion.
FLAGS
Flag ceremonies are often combined with the playing of a national anthym, so refer to the guidance above. Basically, if a color guard is presenting a national flag or passing in a parade, stand at attention. Only salute if it's the U.S. flag, but show your hosts at least the respect of standing up straight. Be aware of how the other guests or audience respond, but also be aware that some of them will be taking their cue on how to act from you.
SPEAKERS
I recently was at an Independence Day reception (one of our own), and while the chief of mission was giving his speech, ELOs at the back of the event venue were eating and talking among themselves. Perhaps they thought that the invited guests listening politely to the speech only a very few feet away from them were somehow deaf in that direction. I just don't know. But this is not a career enhancing move, no matter how hungry you are or how good the food is.
If someone is giving a speech, turn your fool cell phone to vibrate only. People will understand if you pull out your phone and look at it, even get up and head towards and exit. After all, diplomats can get genuinely emergent calls at any time and no one should get bent out of shape. But if the prime minister's speech is interrupted by the American vice consul's cell phone everyone is going to remember it.
Yes, lots of local guests will fail to heed this and their cell phones will ring and they may or may not be embarrassed. Don't worry about them; worry about you. And worry about your reputation.
REFERENCES
Every FSO should own a copy of Protocol. Any of the several editions will suffice. Short of an assignment as a staff assistant or protocol officer, no one will expect you to have memorized it, but you should read through it once just so you are at least familiar with the contents for later on when you realize you need to look something up.
Also highly recommended is Service Etiquette. For those of you serving in Commonwealth countries, I would also heartily commend to you any of Debrett's publications.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
re: "Hot Dog Diplomacy"
Jules Crittenden at Forward Movement ("on politics, crime, science, foreign affairs, and maritime and military matters in the United States, Asia, the Balkans and the Middle East") had some wonderful Independence Day reception suggestions for our embassies abroad.
Money quote(s):
"The notion of idly breaking bread with the representatives of men who are killing their own people, with no sign they intend to stop, in addition to having killed a lot of ours, on a holiday devoted to celebrating freedom.
A great opportunity for revolution-minded Iranian diplomats and their families to defect, I suppose. Only one problem. Could they trust the Obama admin not to throw them back?"
Ouch.
"So what are the chances any Iranian diplomat is going to be allowed to attend an event that is all about throwing off the yoke of tyranny? Unless the mullahs decide it would be fun to make the Americans look bad with a lot of chummy international photo ops while people are being killed in the streets of Tehran?
I recommend the United States embassies and career diplomats that are being compelled to go along with this travesty mullah-proof their Fourth of July events by inviting a lot of girls in American flag bikinis, just to be on the safe side."
For any who are unclear on the concept: BSFW (i.e., barely safe for work).
Money quote(s):
"The notion of idly breaking bread with the representatives of men who are killing their own people, with no sign they intend to stop, in addition to having killed a lot of ours, on a holiday devoted to celebrating freedom.
A great opportunity for revolution-minded Iranian diplomats and their families to defect, I suppose. Only one problem. Could they trust the Obama admin not to throw them back?"
Ouch.
"So what are the chances any Iranian diplomat is going to be allowed to attend an event that is all about throwing off the yoke of tyranny? Unless the mullahs decide it would be fun to make the Americans look bad with a lot of chummy international photo ops while people are being killed in the streets of Tehran?
I recommend the United States embassies and career diplomats that are being compelled to go along with this travesty mullah-proof their Fourth of July events by inviting a lot of girls in American flag bikinis, just to be on the safe side."
For any who are unclear on the concept: BSFW (i.e., barely safe for work).
re: "The Heritage Foundation Urges Continued Expansion of VWP"
NoDoubleStandard at Calling a Spade a Spade ("Rants of a Foreign Service Officer on the things that matter to you -- and matter to you not at all") examined some of the visa waiver program's weaknesses.
Money quote(s):
"(A)t VWP's inception in 1986, the focus was on facilitating travel for citizens of countries posing a low risk of overstay. Because French citizens, for instance, weren't likely to remain the U.S. as illegal workers, it didn't make any sense to make them apply for visas. It's a waste of resources to process visa applications, when the refusal rate is next to zero.
The initial focus wasn't security."
"The program is now tighter, because measures were taken to make abuse of VWP more difficult. Let's face it; if the primary concern is thwarting terrorist and criminal travel, it's far more effective to abolish the program and interview everyone. Does that mean VWP should be shut down? Of course not. As the report states, "security, freedom and prosperity" have to be balanced."
&
"Further expansion of VWP, however, will require a renewal of DHS's ability to grant refusal-rate waivers for countries above the 3% cutoff, so that countries under 10% could still conceivably enter the program after June 30, 2009.
My take?
Bad idea."
Read the whole thing.
Money quote(s):
"(A)t VWP's inception in 1986, the focus was on facilitating travel for citizens of countries posing a low risk of overstay. Because French citizens, for instance, weren't likely to remain the U.S. as illegal workers, it didn't make any sense to make them apply for visas. It's a waste of resources to process visa applications, when the refusal rate is next to zero.
The initial focus wasn't security."
"The program is now tighter, because measures were taken to make abuse of VWP more difficult. Let's face it; if the primary concern is thwarting terrorist and criminal travel, it's far more effective to abolish the program and interview everyone. Does that mean VWP should be shut down? Of course not. As the report states, "security, freedom and prosperity" have to be balanced."
&
"Further expansion of VWP, however, will require a renewal of DHS's ability to grant refusal-rate waivers for countries above the 3% cutoff, so that countries under 10% could still conceivably enter the program after June 30, 2009.
My take?
Bad idea."
Read the whole thing.
re: "Owlers: "Particularly Qualified" Letters Sent to Diplomats"
Domani Spero at Diplopundit ("Blogging the Foreign Service: Just one obsessive observer, diplomatic watcher, opinionator and noodle newsmaker monitoring the goings on at Foggy Bottom and the worldwide available universe.") observed the arrival of some correspondence of note, particularly for the recipients.
Money quote(s):
"I understand that the owl mail started hitting workstations last week. I received a tip that Career Development Officers (CDOs) have sent out DG-drafted letters late last week to Foreign Service officers deemed “particularly qualified” for service in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
One officer who received the targeted recruitment letter was quite surprised. Why? Well, because the job this officer was targeted for requires a specific language proficiency (which this FSO does not have) and reporting on economic conditions (FSO had no previous experience in the country nor in writing economic reports). The last time we’ve seen similar letters was about two years ago when State was staffing the diplomatic surge in Iraq, and diplomats were under threat of being sent on directed assignments."
"The military is expected to draw down soon in Iraq but there is no corresponding expectation for the draw down of US diplomatic presence there. So even as the State Department ramps up its diplomatic surge in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the demand for FS personnel in Iraq will not abate."
&
"(W)ould volunteers continue to step up year after year? We're on Year 6 going on 7 in Iraq, plus Year 1 going on 4, at least in Af/Pak (under new policy). I'm not sure how long you can keep recycling the same volunteers (who are language qualified or with reporting or stabilization experience) into the war zones or into critical post. Aren't there folks doing their third tour in Iraq? (I should note that the most recent DCM coming out of Iraq is tapped for Sri Lanka; and the most recent DCM coming out of Kabul is going to Kosovo)."
Money quote(s):
"I understand that the owl mail started hitting workstations last week. I received a tip that Career Development Officers (CDOs) have sent out DG-drafted letters late last week to Foreign Service officers deemed “particularly qualified” for service in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
One officer who received the targeted recruitment letter was quite surprised. Why? Well, because the job this officer was targeted for requires a specific language proficiency (which this FSO does not have) and reporting on economic conditions (FSO had no previous experience in the country nor in writing economic reports). The last time we’ve seen similar letters was about two years ago when State was staffing the diplomatic surge in Iraq, and diplomats were under threat of being sent on directed assignments."
"The military is expected to draw down soon in Iraq but there is no corresponding expectation for the draw down of US diplomatic presence there. So even as the State Department ramps up its diplomatic surge in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the demand for FS personnel in Iraq will not abate."
&
"(W)ould volunteers continue to step up year after year? We're on Year 6 going on 7 in Iraq, plus Year 1 going on 4, at least in Af/Pak (under new policy). I'm not sure how long you can keep recycling the same volunteers (who are language qualified or with reporting or stabilization experience) into the war zones or into critical post. Aren't there folks doing their third tour in Iraq? (I should note that the most recent DCM coming out of Iraq is tapped for Sri Lanka; and the most recent DCM coming out of Kabul is going to Kosovo)."
Saturday, August 15, 2009
re: "Are the "Birthers" right?"
Lemuel Calhoun at Hillbilly White Trash ("Commenting about politics, religion, firearms, food, Celtic music, beer, science fiction and the Asheville Vortex.") comments on the speculation.
Money quote(s):
"I haven't gotten involved in the great "where was Obama born" brouhaha for one reason. That nothing can be PROVEN and that means that as far as the American electorate is concerned it doesn't exist. That kind of speculation only gets you labeled as a wako, a "birther" no more sane than the "truthers" who maintain that 9/11 was an "inside job"."
"There does seem to be more here than the ravings of conspiracy loons."
&
"I could give you a certified birth certificate proving that I was born in Rutherford County, North Carolina.
Anyone reading this who was born in the USA could do the same.
So why can't Obama?"
Money quote(s):
"I haven't gotten involved in the great "where was Obama born" brouhaha for one reason. That nothing can be PROVEN and that means that as far as the American electorate is concerned it doesn't exist. That kind of speculation only gets you labeled as a wako, a "birther" no more sane than the "truthers" who maintain that 9/11 was an "inside job"."
"There does seem to be more here than the ravings of conspiracy loons."
&
"I could give you a certified birth certificate proving that I was born in Rutherford County, North Carolina.
Anyone reading this who was born in the USA could do the same.
So why can't Obama?"
Friday, August 14, 2009
re: "Diplomatic Spouse Employment: A Drip in a Large Tin Roof"
Domani Spero at Diplopundit ("Blogging the Foreign Service: Just one obsessive observer, diplomatic watcher, opinionator and noodle newsmaker monitoring the goings on at Foggy Bottom and the worldwide available universe.") provided an expansive discussion of the how State remains mired in the 1950s.
Money quote(s):
"Folks who have never been an EFM (eligible family member) or who never had a loved one face the agony or depression over joblessness or starting all over every 2-3 years may find it hard to understand why diplomatic spouses and partners with careers of their own would want more. They have free housing overseas, their employed spouses have allowances, and life is not generally bad (unless you consider ingesting Clorox with your salad, picking out bugs from your grain jars, dealing with all sorts of tropical illnesses as bad). The spouses get to meet interesting people, learn a foreign language (when space is available), and can get up at 10 am if they want … there really is nothing to complain about, or is there?"
"In the past, when the State Department hires a diplomat, it gets the bonus of a diplomatic wife, unofficial representative and unpaid laborer rolled into one. That traditional role of the diplomatic wife has now been overtaken by events. Women’s participation in the workforce has grown dramatically over the past few decades, which has led the way to the dual-income household."
&
"Foreign Service spouses and partners may be far from the derelicts we see on the streets, but in a sense, without jobs -- they are people unable to support themselves overseas and the lives they live abroad are always, always contingent on the official position of somebody else. At some posts, even requesting minor repair in your house/apartment had to be done by the employee. Upon their return home from the overseas assignment of their spouses/partners, their limited job experience compounds the challenge of job hunting."
Money quote(s):
"Folks who have never been an EFM (eligible family member) or who never had a loved one face the agony or depression over joblessness or starting all over every 2-3 years may find it hard to understand why diplomatic spouses and partners with careers of their own would want more. They have free housing overseas, their employed spouses have allowances, and life is not generally bad (unless you consider ingesting Clorox with your salad, picking out bugs from your grain jars, dealing with all sorts of tropical illnesses as bad). The spouses get to meet interesting people, learn a foreign language (when space is available), and can get up at 10 am if they want … there really is nothing to complain about, or is there?"
"In the past, when the State Department hires a diplomat, it gets the bonus of a diplomatic wife, unofficial representative and unpaid laborer rolled into one. That traditional role of the diplomatic wife has now been overtaken by events. Women’s participation in the workforce has grown dramatically over the past few decades, which has led the way to the dual-income household."
&
"Foreign Service spouses and partners may be far from the derelicts we see on the streets, but in a sense, without jobs -- they are people unable to support themselves overseas and the lives they live abroad are always, always contingent on the official position of somebody else. At some posts, even requesting minor repair in your house/apartment had to be done by the employee. Upon their return home from the overseas assignment of their spouses/partners, their limited job experience compounds the challenge of job hunting."
Thursday, August 13, 2009
re: "Language Shortfalls at the State Department, Revisited"
Domani Spero at Diplopundit ("Blogging the Foreign Service: Just one obsessive observer, diplomatic watcher, opinionator and noodle newsmaker monitoring the goings on at Foggy Bottom and the worldwide available universe.") posted an excellent piece on State's linguist shortfalls during wartime.
Money quote(s):
"(A)ssignments in hard locations like Afghanistan and Pakistan are usually “unaccompanied” and have one-year durations. Given that we’re seven years into the Afghan war, even if we reduce the number assigned to that region to 5 FSOs in each of the last 6 years, that still amounts to something like a 1 ½ tour for those qualified speakers. I suspect that almost all of those 18-language qualified employees would have done their second tour in the region by now.
Isn’t this the same old story that happened to the Arabic speakers sent to Iraq? At a certain point, you run out of qualified speakers. What do you do? Make people do repeat tours for a second, third, fourth time? Or maybe give others 3.5hours of Arabic training and send them off to battle sheep, the electric grid, water wells, etc. in the provinces of Baghdad. Only this time they’ll do this now in the rural areas of Afghanistan?"
"You know what’s going to happen – it happened before when we fumbled into Baghdad. There will be a mad scramble at the Hill to find out more about this language deficit. We don’t have enough people to go; it’s not like this is really news. But Congress will be shocked and the CRS or the GAO will be tasked to review the language shortfalls at the State Department, again."
"State’s philosophy is to hire officers with a wide range of skills that it believes are predictors of success in the Foreign Service. It does not hire exclusively for skills that State can train, such as foreign languages. As a result, State’s primary approach to meeting its language requirements is through language training, primarily through classes provided at its training arm, the Foreign Service Institute (FSI)."
&
"Our current universe is everything about risks. The current enemy stretches the globe like a giant octopus, with tentacles in many different hot spots around the world. Do you think our opponents in the "war of ideas" will wait quietly until we’re done and ready to counter them?
If there is ever a time when State’s hiring and recruitment philosophy needs an extreme makeover, that time is now. State does not have the luxury of time for training its officers from scratch whether in functional, regional or language areas. It needs to speed up, and it can't speed up using the same old SOPs from an outdated era. "
(Bold type added for emphasis. - CAA)
Money quote(s):
"(A)ssignments in hard locations like Afghanistan and Pakistan are usually “unaccompanied” and have one-year durations. Given that we’re seven years into the Afghan war, even if we reduce the number assigned to that region to 5 FSOs in each of the last 6 years, that still amounts to something like a 1 ½ tour for those qualified speakers. I suspect that almost all of those 18-language qualified employees would have done their second tour in the region by now.
Isn’t this the same old story that happened to the Arabic speakers sent to Iraq? At a certain point, you run out of qualified speakers. What do you do? Make people do repeat tours for a second, third, fourth time? Or maybe give others 3.5hours of Arabic training and send them off to battle sheep, the electric grid, water wells, etc. in the provinces of Baghdad. Only this time they’ll do this now in the rural areas of Afghanistan?"
"You know what’s going to happen – it happened before when we fumbled into Baghdad. There will be a mad scramble at the Hill to find out more about this language deficit. We don’t have enough people to go; it’s not like this is really news. But Congress will be shocked and the CRS or the GAO will be tasked to review the language shortfalls at the State Department, again."
"State’s philosophy is to hire officers with a wide range of skills that it believes are predictors of success in the Foreign Service. It does not hire exclusively for skills that State can train, such as foreign languages. As a result, State’s primary approach to meeting its language requirements is through language training, primarily through classes provided at its training arm, the Foreign Service Institute (FSI)."
&
"Our current universe is everything about risks. The current enemy stretches the globe like a giant octopus, with tentacles in many different hot spots around the world. Do you think our opponents in the "war of ideas" will wait quietly until we’re done and ready to counter them?
If there is ever a time when State’s hiring and recruitment philosophy needs an extreme makeover, that time is now. State does not have the luxury of time for training its officers from scratch whether in functional, regional or language areas. It needs to speed up, and it can't speed up using the same old SOPs from an outdated era. "
(Bold type added for emphasis. - CAA)
re: "New Bureau Needed at State?"
Domani Spero at Diplopundit weighed in on the protocol learning curve.
Money quote(s):
"On the DVD gift set reportedly given to Mr. Brown, what can I say? At least Mr. Brown did not have to report it to his ethics office? Or -- it was so cheap, Mr. Brown gets to keep it? Well, I'm trying to be helpful here -- who picked out that gift, an intern with a maxed out credit card? Okay, let's be charitable and just say they are on a learning curve here."
"(W)hat we need is a a new position at the State Department -- the Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Gag Gifts and Foreign Gifting (GG/FG). He/She would be the subject matter expert on gifts and foreign gifting choices for all branches of the government."
&
"I'm willing to do the gag gift gig, if only to show I'm not a kid! Will work for free if there is coffee and some respectability (i.e. corner office).
Not a lot of options here, people - get your act together, get a new bureau (and A/S), or get your daily dose of Comedy Central. Seriously."
Money quote(s):
"On the DVD gift set reportedly given to Mr. Brown, what can I say? At least Mr. Brown did not have to report it to his ethics office? Or -- it was so cheap, Mr. Brown gets to keep it? Well, I'm trying to be helpful here -- who picked out that gift, an intern with a maxed out credit card? Okay, let's be charitable and just say they are on a learning curve here."
"(W)hat we need is a a new position at the State Department -- the Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Gag Gifts and Foreign Gifting (GG/FG). He/She would be the subject matter expert on gifts and foreign gifting choices for all branches of the government."
&
"I'm willing to do the gag gift gig, if only to show I'm not a kid! Will work for free if there is coffee and some respectability (i.e. corner office).
Not a lot of options here, people - get your act together, get a new bureau (and A/S), or get your daily dose of Comedy Central. Seriously."
re: "Birth Certificate Bill To Be Introduced in Congress"
Ace at Ace of Spades HQ noted some proposed congressional legislation.
Money quote(s):
"If the Constitution states a requirement of office, someone must have the ability to enforce that requirement, or else it's a dead letter. "
Money quote(s):
"If the Constitution states a requirement of office, someone must have the ability to enforce that requirement, or else it's a dead letter. "
re: "Backtracking on Zelaya"
DRJ guest-posted at Patterico's Pontifications ("Harangues that Just Make Sense"):
Money quote(s):
"(T)welve days have passed since a State Department spokesman acknowledged that U.S. legal advisers were “actively assessing the facts and the law in question.” These advisers have clearly had enough time to conclude their research regarding the legality of Zelaya’s actions and the Honduran response, as well as communicate their conclusions to the State Department and the White House.
The continued silence by the Obama Administration on this topic speaks volumes. My guess is the word went out to Hugo Chávez and Manuel Zelaya that the Obama Administration is throwing Zelaya under the bus."
Money quote(s):
"(T)welve days have passed since a State Department spokesman acknowledged that U.S. legal advisers were “actively assessing the facts and the law in question.” These advisers have clearly had enough time to conclude their research regarding the legality of Zelaya’s actions and the Honduran response, as well as communicate their conclusions to the State Department and the White House.
The continued silence by the Obama Administration on this topic speaks volumes. My guess is the word went out to Hugo Chávez and Manuel Zelaya that the Obama Administration is throwing Zelaya under the bus."
re: "Who needs evidence when we already know the verdict?"
Melanie Phillips at The Spectator ("defending authentic liberal values against the attempt to destroy western culture from within") identified a classic "show trial" scenario.
Money quote(s):
"The people demanding this inquiry already know what its conclusion must be. It is that we were ‘taken to war on a lie’ and that the whole British involvement in Iraq has been an unmitigated disaster from start to finish: unnecessary, illegal, mendacious and catastrophic. There can be no deviation from this conclusion. A show trial is required so that the guilty man, T Blair, can be strung up along with the corrupted spooks, law officers and spin merchants who supinely did his bidding in perpetrating this monstrous crime against the people.
Personally, I do not believe the Iraq war was illegal; I do not believe it was unnecessary; I do not believe we were ’taken to war on a lie’. I do believe it was very badly handled by both America and Britain. If there is to be an inquiry, it makes no sense to hold it in secret. The point is there is no need for an inquiry. We have had several already. The only demand for this one is coming from those who are furious that all the previous ones have failed to come up with the correct conclusion and are determined to have an inquiry that does."
Money quote(s):
"The people demanding this inquiry already know what its conclusion must be. It is that we were ‘taken to war on a lie’ and that the whole British involvement in Iraq has been an unmitigated disaster from start to finish: unnecessary, illegal, mendacious and catastrophic. There can be no deviation from this conclusion. A show trial is required so that the guilty man, T Blair, can be strung up along with the corrupted spooks, law officers and spin merchants who supinely did his bidding in perpetrating this monstrous crime against the people.
Personally, I do not believe the Iraq war was illegal; I do not believe it was unnecessary; I do not believe we were ’taken to war on a lie’. I do believe it was very badly handled by both America and Britain. If there is to be an inquiry, it makes no sense to hold it in secret. The point is there is no need for an inquiry. We have had several already. The only demand for this one is coming from those who are furious that all the previous ones have failed to come up with the correct conclusion and are determined to have an inquiry that does."
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
re: "Spinning Around the Axis of Evil"
NoDoubleStandards at Calling a Spade a Spade ("Rants of a Foreign Service Officer on the things that matter to you -- and matter to you not at all") disagreed with the previous administration's priority of work for tackling the Axis of Evil.
Money quote(s):
"The single most unproductive rhetorical flourish on Dubya's part was his proclamation of the "Axis of Evil." Then he compounded the problem by attacking the weakest link, overstretching our national resources and steeling the remaining members of the Axis."
Money quote(s):
"The single most unproductive rhetorical flourish on Dubya's part was his proclamation of the "Axis of Evil." Then he compounded the problem by attacking the weakest link, overstretching our national resources and steeling the remaining members of the Axis."
Monday, August 10, 2009
re: "Metrosexuality Rears Its Ugly Head (Again)"
Hey Pretty ("drowning in obscurity, but the water is lovely") tells us like it is from the perspective of a real woman.
Money quote(s):
"It seems that the shaving industry is collectively launching a conspiracy campaign to encourage men to get rid of their body hair.
Clearly a ploy to sell more products, this tactic parallels the shampoo industry's famous "lather, rinse, repeat" dictum."
"I don't want to date somebody who spends more time grooming themselves than I do, nor I do want to date somebody that clearly obsessed with their appearance."
&
"At the end of the day, I like my men to be men."
Money quote(s):
"It seems that the shaving industry is collectively launching a conspiracy campaign to encourage men to get rid of their body hair.
Clearly a ploy to sell more products, this tactic parallels the shampoo industry's famous "lather, rinse, repeat" dictum."
"I don't want to date somebody who spends more time grooming themselves than I do, nor I do want to date somebody that clearly obsessed with their appearance."
&
"At the end of the day, I like my men to be men."
re: "Management by Walking Around"
The Consul's Files ("ask questions, answer questions, question answers, express frustrations, tell their favorite consular stories, uncensored and anonymous") had some good insights.
Money quote(s):
"(S)omething that makes a good consular manager, and something that good consular managers excel at, is management by walking around"
"I have often teased our political and econ colleagues by describing my view of their typical work day: read three newspaper articles, write a cable about them, email it around for approval, change 'happy' to 'glad', fold it into a paper airplane, sail it into a dark elevator shaft. Do the same tomorrow."
&
"(F)or all the upstairs folks' occasional condescension, if we didn't do visas here no one would take their phone calls. "
Money quote(s):
"(S)omething that makes a good consular manager, and something that good consular managers excel at, is management by walking around"
"I have often teased our political and econ colleagues by describing my view of their typical work day: read three newspaper articles, write a cable about them, email it around for approval, change 'happy' to 'glad', fold it into a paper airplane, sail it into a dark elevator shaft. Do the same tomorrow."
&
"(F)or all the upstairs folks' occasional condescension, if we didn't do visas here no one would take their phone calls. "
re: "Estrada On Hunduran Treason"
Jude at Hugh Hewitt ("A blog of Townhall.Com") had a recommendation:
"Estrada grew up in Honduras before coming to America, and his take on what's going on in Honduras right now should be the one piece you read and remember on Zelaya: Honduras' Non-Coup."
"Estrada grew up in Honduras before coming to America, and his take on what's going on in Honduras right now should be the one piece you read and remember on Zelaya: Honduras' Non-Coup."
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