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Job Opportunities In Baghdad For Vacate and NCMike
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| Job Opportunities In Baghdad For Vacate and NCMike
- Click HERE to go to the original thread with graphics
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| otherone4life |
Hey guys, Condi put the "Help Wanted" sign up at the US Embassy in Baghdad. Apparently, working in a place where, along with a laptop, suit and tie, and credential, you have to wear a bulletproof vest, is not a big draw. I encourage you both to apply ...
Embassy Staff In Baghdad Inadequate, Rice Is Told
Ambassador's Memo Asks for 'Best People'
By Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 19, 2007; A01
Ryan C. Crocker, the new U.S. ambassador to Iraq, bluntly told Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in a cable dated May 31 that the embassy in Baghdad -- the largest and most expensive U.S. embassy -- lacks enough well-qualified staff members and that its security rules are too restrictive for Foreign Service officers to do their jobs.
"Simply put, we cannot do the nation's most important work if we do not have the Department's best people," Crocker said in the memo.
The unclassified cable underscores the State Department's struggle to find its role in the turmoil in Iraq. With a 2007 budget of more than $1 billion and a staff that has expanded to more than 1,000 Americans and 4,000 third-country nationals, the embassy has become the center of a bureaucratic battle between Crocker, who wants to strengthen the staff, and some members of Congress, who are increasingly skeptical about the diplomatic mission's rising costs.
"In essence, the issue is whether we are a Department and a Service at war," Crocker wrote. "If we are, we need to organize and prioritize in a way that reflects this, something we have not done thus far." In the memo, Crocker drew upon the recommendations of a management review he requested for the embassy shortly after arriving in Baghdad two months ago.
"He's panicking," said one government official who recently returned from Baghdad, adding that Crocker is carrying a heavy workload as the United States presses the Iraqi government to meet political benchmarks.
"You could use a well-managed political section of 50 people" who know what they are doing, the official said, but Crocker does not have it because many staffers assigned to the embassy are "too young for the job," or are not qualified and are "trying to save their careers" by taking an urgent assignment in Iraq.
"They need a cohesive, coherent effort on all fronts," the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. "It's just overwhelming."
But some lawmakers have balked at what they consider the unbridled expansion of the embassy. "Having said over and over again that we don't want to be seen as an occupying force in Iraq, we're building the largest embassy that we have. . . . And it just seems to grow and grow and grow," Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) said to Rice during a hearing last month. "Can we just review who we really need and send the rest of the people home?"
The State Department said that as of last week, 99 percent of the positions in the embassy and in regional reconstruction teams had been filled. But State officials privately concede that in the rush to fill slots -- each person serves only one year -- not enough attention has been paid to the management of the flux of people.
"In terms of Iraq and Afghanistan, the secretary has put the department on a war footing," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. "If one of her ambassadors says he needs something, she will get it for him."
Crocker, in an interview, confirmed the authenticity of the cable. He insisted it was not intended as criticism of Rice or of the staff. He said the cable reflected the urgent nature of the tasks he has faced since becoming ambassador.
"The big issue for me, in my estimation, was simply not having enough people," Crocker said. "The people here are heroic. I need more people, and that's the thing, not that the people who are here shouldn't be here or couldn't do it." Crocker said he does not know why the changes he is pressing for had not taken place sooner. The embassy was established three years ago, when the Coalition Provisional Authority was dissolved.
Shortly after arriving in Baghdad, Crocker asked Rice to dispatch Pat Kennedy, the State Department's director of management policy, to Baghdad to conduct an extensive assessment of staffing and security issues. Kennedy was directed to come up with a plan to bring greater order to embassy staffing, beef up the political and economic sections, and make sure the embassy has greater control over staffing decisions.
Kennedy's 80-page report includes 88 recommendations, including doubling the personnel devoted to political and economic reporting and analysis, State Department officials said. The embassy previously had 15 political officers, and Crocker has won an additional 11. The nine-person economic staff will be increased to 21 and will add four contractors. Many of the slots will be transferred from functions that are ending, such as reconstruction projects.
In the cable, Crocker said the State Department's human resources office "has made heroic efforts to staff the embassy, but to a large extent HR has been working alone." Referring to the floor where Rice and her top aides work, Crocker said there should be "a clear message from the Seventh floor . . . that staffing Iraq is an imperative."
Crocker also called for ensuring that responsibility for recruiting and assigning personnel for the embassy rests with the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, which covers the Middle East and North Africa. All other bureau assignments "should be held until there are sufficient bidders with requisite qualifications for Iraq positions," Crocker wrote.
Crocker, in the interview, said the human resources department does not have the capacity to make sure the best people are placed in Baghdad. "They can't do this," he said, whereas the Near East bureau, which oversees Baghdad, has the skills to "identify the right people with the right skill sets." State Department officials acknowledge that hiring has been haphazard, but a team has been set up in the Near East bureau to work with the personnel department.
Crocker's cable also complained about the "overly restrictive" security rules that the diplomats must operate under because of a law passed after the 1983 bombing of the Beirut embassy. "If the Department's normal standards for operation were fully applied, we would not have a diplomatic presence in Iraq," he wrote. "We do, and we must." He asked for authority to operate under less restrictive military standards, as necessary.
Crocker, in the interview, said diplomats are "not able to do the job needed," such as meet with officials in cities such as Najaf, under the security rules.
State Department officials acknowledge that the law did not envision a situation such as Iraq and that department lawyers are examining whether it can be interpreted to give Crocker additional flexibility.
If military standards "are good enough for them, they should be good enough for us," Crocker said. "We are all in the same fight."
Staff writer Karen DeYoung contributed to this report. |
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| Ass Boil |
Are YOU crazy!!? America needs all the car salesmen and pawn shop managers it can find right here!!
They are much to valuable to send on such a dangerous mission. |
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| otherone4life |
| is that what those two numbnuts do? Car sales and pawn shop? there's a certain irony if true. W and the gang are no better than used car salesmen and they've hocked the country's good credit to the chinese ... |
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| artiel |
Quote: Originally posted by otherone4life
is that what those two numbnuts do? Car sales and pawn shop? there's a certain irony if true. W and the gang are no better than used car salesmen and they've hocked the country's good credit to the chinese ... |
The other amazing thing is that by being those professions, they are a part of the social proliteriat, and yet they will walk to the ends of the earth so that the bourgeoisie can steal their tax dollars. |
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| Ass Boil |
Vacunt is actually a car salseman, NCMoron claims to work in the financial industry, which I believe is cover for his job running a pawn shop or payday loan store....
Their jobs should be diffusing IEDs along the road to the Baghdad airport. |
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| Turd_Cutter |
| I think it's a perfect fit. They are both blindly allegiant to Bush and grossly unqualified for the work. They fit the profile of everyone in this administration. |
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| VacateTheWord |
The whole "if you support the war then you should go enlist" thing is getting really old.
The logic behind such an assertion dictates that no one can support their local fire department, because unless they are going to volunteer then they are hypocrites. It's an idiotic assertion - but then again I suppose the shoe fits quite well. |
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| VacateTheWord |
Quote: Originally posted by Ass Boil
Vacunt is actually a car salseman, NCMoron claims to work in the financial industry, which I believe is cover for his job running a pawn shop or payday loan store....
Their jobs should be diffusing IEDs along the road to the Baghdad airport. |
I already asked Oz this question, but he cut and ran from it. Perhaps you won't.
What do you do that makes you so superior? And don't lie about it. |
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| Ass Boil |
Ballsack,
We have had this exact discussion before, and you used the same bullshit talking points verbatim.
A firefighter can quit his job at any time if he feels his supervisors have put him in unnecessary danger. If a soldier were to do that it is called going AWOL and they can be thrown in jail for it.
Try another false premise, asswipe.
The truth is you don't really think that war is as necessary as you claim. It's only worth OTHER people risking their lives, but you refuse to change your life in any way for this cause you claim to support....
And I already told you what I do in that previous discussion. Maybe you can look it up.... I don't consider myself "superior" to anyone. If you have a complex about your profession that is not my fault. But it doesn't matter what you do, you are a coward who thinks others should sacrifice for the things you claim to believe in..... |
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| ChaseDC |
Quote: Originally posted by VacateTheWord
The whole "if you support the war then you should go enlist" thing is getting really old.
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So is the "liberals hate america" thing.
If you are afraid to enlist, at least have the stones to admit it. |
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| VacateTheWord |
Quote: Originally posted by Ass Boil
Ballsack,
We have had this exact discussion before, and you used the same bullshit talking points verbatim.
A firefighter can quit his job at any time if he feels his supervisors have put him in unnecessary danger. If a soldier were to do that it is called going AWOL and they can be thrown in jail for it.
Try another false premise, asswipe.
The truth is you don't really think that war is as necessary as you claim. It's only worth OTHER people risking their lives, but you refuse to change your life in any way for this cause you claim to support....
And I already told you what I do in that previous discussion. Maybe you can look it up.... I don't consider myself "superior" to anyone. If you have a complex about your profession that is not my fault. But it doesn't matter what you do, you are a coward who thinks others should sacrifice for the things you claim to believe in..... |
Well you did nothing more than spin the analogy to suit your own assertions. Anyone can do it - did someone force the people who enlisted in the military? Were they promised to be kept out of combat if a war should occur? See, they made a conscious decision just as a firefighter would. In my town, 98% of the calls the fire department goes on are either false alarms or fires in wastepaper baskets. Every few years we'll have a legitimate fire.
The point is that you cannot argue that a person is a "coward" if he is not willling to "sacrifice" for something they support. Again, going by that logic a person cannot support a low crime rate in their town unless they are willing to head down to the police academy and join the department. You're argument is just plain dumb.
And as far as "changing my life" to support a cause - you don't know what I've done or haven't done, so your assertion is baseless. No, I've never served in the armed forces. That doesn't mean that a person hasn't made donations to groups that helps veterans and sends care packages to the troops. I'm sure you'll belittle that as "cowardice," but saying that I have not done anything is just stupid on your part because you don't know what you're talking about.
As far as what I do for a living, I have no problem with it - otherwise I would have taken the easy way out and lied about it. I don't remember you coming forward with your profession - I think you are lying about having done so. But if it's not such a big secret, then say it. Come on, I'm sure you're job is far more impressive than mine is. Let's hear it. |
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| harley-davidson |
| Quote: Their jobs should be diffusing IEDs along the road to the Baghdad airport. |
Is there any way possible to include a camera crew for this, I mean right from the minute they get to the airport ? |
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| Stickman |
Quote: Originally posted by harley-davidson
Is there any way possible to include a camera crew for this, I mean right from the minute they get to the airport ? |
It can be a reality show. The 101st Fighting Bloggers. Somehow I think the first episode would end with Vacate shivering by the side of the road, sitting in a large pile of his own excrement. |
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| harley-davidson |
| Quote: Well you did nothing more than spin the analogy to suit your own assertions. Anyone can do it - did someone force the people who enlisted in the military? Were they promised to be kept out of combat if a war should occur? |
I guess you forgot your cult leader has most of our national guard and reserves over there, if we ever have a national emergency here were fucked....but you just keep spinning,deflecting and avoiding your duty to chimp and chief....we understand |
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| harley-davidson |
| Quote: It can be a reality show. The 101st Fighting Bloggers. Somehow I think the first episode would end with Vacate shivering by the side of the road, sitting in a large pile of his own excrement. |
You do mean the road in front of his trailer right ? |
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| WillowGlen |
Quote: Originally posted by Stickman
It can be a reality show. The 101st Fighting Bloggers. Somehow I think the first episode would end with Vacate shivering by the side of the road, sitting in a large pile of his own excrement. |
with Zimmie eating it. |
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| Halcyon |
Quote: Originally posted by WillowGlen
with Zimmie eating it. |
Zimmie-----> |
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| Ass Boil |
Quote: Originally posted by VacateTheWord
Well you did nothing more than spin the analogy to suit your own assertions. Anyone can do it - did someone force the people who enlisted in the military? Were they promised to be kept out of combat if a war should occur? See, they made a conscious decision just as a firefighter would. In my town, 98% of the calls the fire department goes on are either false alarms or fires in wastepaper baskets. Every few years we'll have a legitimate fire.
The point is that you cannot argue that a person is a "coward" if he is not willling to "sacrifice" for something they support. Again, going by that logic a person cannot support a low crime rate in their town unless they are willing to head down to the police academy and join the department. You're argument is just plain dumb.
And as far as "changing my life" to support a cause - you don't know what I've done or haven't done, so your assertion is baseless. No, I've never served in the armed forces. That doesn't mean that a person hasn't made donations to groups that helps veterans and sends care packages to the troops. I'm sure you'll belittle that as "cowardice," but saying that I have not done anything is just stupid on your part because you don't know what you're talking about.
As far as what I do for a living, I have no problem with it - otherwise I would have taken the easy way out and lied about it. I don't remember you coming forward with your profession - I think you are lying about having done so. But if it's not such a big secret, then say it. Come on, I'm sure you're job is far more impressive than mine is. Let's hear it. |
I cannot believe how fucking stupid you are to try and use the SAME analogy after it was just proven to be incorrect.
Does a firefighter in your town GO TO JAIL if they decide they want to quit their job and walk away? NO. So stop using that idiotic analogy. It could not be farther from accurate.
Our troops sign up trusting our leaders to only put them in harm's way when absolutely necessary, not a bullshit situation like Iraq. If you have decided the Iraq war is only important enough to you to write some checks and send some packages, then that answers the question. You do not think it is such an epic and necessary battle to establish democracy in the middle east or you would feel compelled to contribute to the cause with something other than your checkbook...
BTW, I do those same things and I have been against this war from day one. So what?
And we did have this same conversation and you insisted on knowing what I did for a living in that thread as well, as if that has anything to do with your cowardice.
But if you feel like you have to know: I work for a reverse distributor in the pharmaceutical industry. I travel around to military bases, hospitals, retail pharmacies and help them prepare their drugs to be returned for credit, destruction, etc... |
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| Halcyon |
Quote: Originally posted by Ass Boil
I cannot believe how fucking stupid you are to try and use the SAME analogy after it was just proven to be incorrect.
Does a firefighter in your town GO TO JAIL if they decide they want to quit their job and walk away? NO. So stop using that idiotic analogy. It could not be farther from accurate.
Our troops sign up trusting our leaders to only put them in harm's way when absolutely necessary, not a bullshit situation like Iraq. If you have decided the Iraq war is only important enough to you to write some checks and send some packages, then that answers the question. You do not think it is such an epic and necessary battle to establish democracy in the middle east or you would feel compelled to contribute to the cause with something other than your checkbook...
BTW, I do those same things and I have been against this war from day one. So what?
And we did have this same conversation and you insisted on knowing what I did for a living in that thread as well, as if that has anything to do with your cowardice.
But if you feel like you have to know: I work for a reverse distributor in the pharmaceutical industry. I travel around to military bases, hospitals, retail pharmacies and help them prepare their drugs to be returned for credit, destruction, etc... |
WOW!! You typed all of that from your phone? |
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| otherone4life |
| Vacate ..assert your moral superiority and get in touch w/the State Dept. Since the entire job of embassy staffers in Baghdad is spinning bullshit, your background in the automobile industry should come in handy ... |
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| Ass Boil |
Quote: Originally posted by Halcyon
WOW!! You typed all of that from your phone? |
LOL
No, I am at home now... although I have typed posts that long many times on my phone before. My phone has a qwerty keyboard, so it's not that bad. Not like using a computer, but not bad. |
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| Halcyon |
Quote: Originally posted by Ass Boil
LOL
No, I am at home now... although I have typed posts that long many times on my phone before. My phone has a qwerty keyboard, so it's not that bad. Not like using a computer, but not bad. |
I know you drive for a living, but I always thought you were a trucker |
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| Ass Boil |
Quote: Originally posted by Halcyon
I know you drive for a living, but I always thought you were a trucker |
Not quite, but a similar life.... Although I am home almost every night.
This job has given me the chance to see almost every part of this country - it's been great. I am a little burned out on the driving, but it sure beats working at a desk all day ;) |
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| VacateTheWord |
Quote: Originally posted by Ass Boil
I cannot believe how fucking stupid you are to try and use the SAME analogy after it was just proven to be incorrect.
Does a firefighter in your town GO TO JAIL if they decide they want to quit their job and walk away? NO. So stop using that idiotic analogy. It could not be farther from accurate.
Our troops sign up trusting our leaders to only put them in harm's way when absolutely necessary, not a bullshit situation like Iraq. If you have decided the Iraq war is only important enough to you to write some checks and send some packages, then that answers the question. You do not think it is such an epic and necessary battle to establish democracy in the middle east or you would feel compelled to contribute to the cause with something other than your checkbook...
BTW, I do those same things and I have been against this war from day one. So what?
And we did have this same conversation and you insisted on knowing what I did for a living in that thread as well, as if that has anything to do with your cowardice.
But if you feel like you have to know: I work for a reverse distributor in the pharmaceutical industry. I travel around to military bases, hospitals, retail pharmacies and help them prepare their drugs to be returned for credit, destruction, etc... |
Well we aren't going to reach an understanding in regards to the analogy - you hold onto that belief that anyone who supports a war and isn't in the army is a coward. I'm sure if Hillary Clinton or some other Democrat launches a war your mindset will do a 180.
In regards to your job, I don't need to know what you do, but you shouldn't be surprised to be called out if you are going to repeatedly bash what I do. I have no problem with how you make your living - it sounds like an honest day's work. How that is somehow superior to what I do is beyond me, but I'm not going to try to change your mind on that either. I work 6 days a week and do a ton of work at home (just finished up at 3am tonight), so I'm not going to apologize to you or anyone. And no, I don't have an inferiority complex - just a natural defensiveness when idiots like yourself take what I do and belittle it to being a "used car salesman." You have no idea what I do or how much I do to earn the living I've made for myself - and that's the last time I'll talk about that.
Stay safe on the road. By the way, do you drive a Hyundai? ;) |
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| otherone4life |
| Vacate, less posting more applying to work in Baghdad ...I'm sure they can fit you with some inferior bulletproof vest while training you on stop, drop and roll ....get out there boy! |
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