diplomacy

Courage is a scarce commodity. It is so rare that we are finding ourselves with an under manned armed services these days and we have diplomats who don’t want to do their jobs because it might be dangerous. They haven’t minded cashing their paychecks, but don’t expect them to actually earn those paychecks.

From Fox News

JACK CRODDY, FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER: It’s one thing if someone believes in what is going on over there and volunteers. I am sorry, but, basically, that is a potential death sentence, and you know it.

And then another thought - who will take care of our children? Who will raise our children if we are dead or seriously wounded?

Well, whether he ‘believes’ in it or not he IS a diplomat and that IS his job. Like I wrote earlier, he hasn’t minded taking the paycheck, now he doesn’t want to do the job.

REP. DUNCAN HUNTER, R-CALIF.: I think we should fire those folks that don’t want to go. You can’t have people on the payroll who refuse to be deployed to the tough places.

YES! They SHOULD be fired. Absolutely. Who else gets away with refusing to do the jobs they are getting paid to do.

BRET BAIER, CO-HOST: There you see some of the back-and-forth over this issue at the State Department this week at a town hall meeting, where some officers said they did not want to be assigned to go to Iraq.

Now the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has weighed in with a cable to all diplomats, sending it out today, saying “Regardless of how the jobs may be filled, they must be filled. It is our duty to do your part towards succeeding in the vital mission in Iraq given to us by the President.”

Some of the back and—it was amazing to watch that town hall meeting, Jeff. The vitriol for some of these Foreign Service officers about possibly being assigned to Iraq—there has not been a decision yet, but it might be that.

JEFF BIRNBAUM: That’s right, they may be forced to go. And they should be forced to go. I think that is part of their duty.

I don’t think they should be forced to go. I think they should be fired and the positions be filled with people who are willing to do their jobs.

MORT KONDRAKE, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, ROLL CALL: They should be fired. They took an oath of office to serve where they were assigned. And if they refuse to serve, then anybody who refuses to serve ought to be subject to dismissal.

And that fellow Croddy said that this is a sentence of death, or something like that? The fact is that in the whole time since 2003, precisely three State Department employees have been killed in Iraq. Two of them were diplomatic security people. One was a political officer of the embassy there.

So this is not a sentence of death. Is it dangerous? Sure it is dangerous. But Foreign Service officers from the founding of the republic have been serving in dangerous places, some of them very heroically. And these people, who are complaining about this are, frankly, an embarrassment to the history of the Foreign Service.

BAIER: Charles, Jeff mentioned it there—the left is painting this as an uprising, a revolt by the State Department official who don’t want to serve in a war that is never-ending. Is that going to stick.

CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST: We had Foreign Service officers that resigned at the time of the invasion on principle, which is an honorable thing to do.

But this, I think, is less honorable, because, as Mort said, when you take an oath to serve, it is worldwide, and you do not pick and choose. And you have an option of resigning. If you are in the military, you do not have an option of resigning. That is desertion.

And it is not as if the Foreign Service officers don’t know of dangers abroad. We had our ambassador in Dudan shot and killed in 1973 by Arab terrorists. Three years later the U.S. ambassador of Lebanon, Francis Malloy, was shot and killed.

We have had the explosions in our embassies in Tanzania and in Kenya. Just about every American embassy in the world has been pelted, attacked, surrounded, and in some way threatened around the world, and you know that going in, and you should not be surprised if you are at one or some other occasion in your life assigned in a dangerous area. I think this is an open and shut case.

This is absolutely dishonorable! I can appreciate someone who is willing to take the consequences of their beliefs. If they don’t believe that their jobs are moral or the right thing, then resign. At least you have your honor and dignity, but to continue to hold a position and only protest when you are called on to do your duty is absolutely dishonorable and disgusting.

Nineteen year old MEN who are serving this country honorably have more courage than these diplomats have. They are more honorable and have more integrity. If only the diplomats pay could be diverted to the guys who are actually doing the work.

Here’s what Duncan Hunter had to say that got this ball rolling.

DUNCAN HUNTER: GO TO WALTER REED AND BETHESDA FOR NEW STATE DEPT PERSONNEL

Washington, D.C.

U.S. Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA), ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, will be meeting with President Bush today regarding his Wounded Warrior proposal to Congress. During today’s meeting, Congressman Hunter intends to also suggest that State Department personnel who refuse deployment to Baghdad be replaced with wounded veterans at Walter Reed and Bethesda hospitals.

‘When the State Department appears to be filled with reluctant personnel, let’s turn to those who have bravely followed the American flag in the most dangerous of assignments,’ said Congressman Hunter. ‘The U.S. Marines, soldiers, airmen and Navy personnel presently recovering at our national military hospitals have all the character required by the Department of State. They are brave, loyal, intelligent and fiercely determined to win the War on Terror.

‘They are veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters and you can be sure that when called on for difficult assignments, they won’t convene a town meeting to protest. Especially for those whose mobility has been impaired by wounds, State Department positions, not only in Baghdad but around the world, will provide excellent jobs as well as availing our nation of their enormous talent.’

Hunter will recommend a team of State Department recruiters be immediately sent to Walter Reed and Bethesda hospitals, as well as posting application forms on relevant employment websites.

‘Let’s replace these reluctant Nellies with America’s finest citizens,’ concluded Hunter. ‘Our wounded warriors will serve our country efficiently, effectively and with undying patriotism.’

tiara tip: PC Free Zone