Name:   Talullahhound - Subject:   Mountain out of a molehill Date:   5/22/2016 4:44:06 PM

State Employees have a difficult time in being utilized.  Yes, they have the experience and the knowledge, but very often the SecState doens't consult them or listen to their advice.  Additionally, a good portion of the Ambassorial positions go to wealthy supporters and not to career diplomats.  And in places like Africa, they tend to tap people from the Peace Corps. So many of the State professionals are frustrated when the high ranking Sec State and Dep SecState and other ranking Directors and Bureau Chiefs ae poliitcal appointments. 

During his tenure, Colin Powell changed the culture by actually consulting the staff and utilizing them.  Also, I think for the first time, they were required to do some planning, which they have not been very good at.  (a joke in DoD is taking a job a State where they think you can walk in order if you can put together a logical plan. And planning and execurtion is one thing you definitely learn in Dod). 

And Condoleeza Rice told them to get out of their offices, get out of the Embassy and go and interact with the country they were assigned. That was a huge change too. 

As far as the Iraq Treaty, time will tell if it is a good deal or a bad deal.  Treaties are a bit of a joke, in that they rarely posess any "teeth" for noncompliance.  I don't know if it is the disaster that the Republicans claim, but I suppose at least some it provides a framework for discussion with Iraq.  I think it is too soon to declare victory or disaster. 

I'm not sure why you keep harping on Donald's show, The Apprentice.  Yes, it is something he did, but it is not the only thing he did.  Mostly he has been a real estate mongul.  Yes, he has done some things that failed, but at least he was doing things - failure is part of life and hopefully you learn from it.  Even the sainted Ronald Reagan (and I say that tongue in cheek) was a movie actor and a screen guild president, before he became governor and eventually President.