Top ranks of US diplomacy 'depleted at dizzying speed' under Trump

[malaise]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/nov/08/top-ranks-of-us-diplomacy-depleted-at-dizzying-speed-under-trump
<snip>
The US has lost more than half its career ambassadors and a significant proportion of other senior diplomats since Donald Trump took office, the head of the foreign service association has said.
Democrats perturbed by Trump's threat of pre-emptive North Korea strike

Barbara Stephenson, a former ambassador to Panama and charge d’affaires in London, said that the top ranks of US diplomacy were being “depleted at dizzying speed”, and the state department was under “mounting threats”.

Stephenson pointed to a hiring freeze that has reduced the intake into the foreign service from 366 in 2016 to an expected 100 in 2018, and a cut in the number of promotions. She said the number of career ambassadors (professional diplomats rather than political appointees) was down 60% since January, while the ranks of career ministers, one rank below, have declined from 33 to 19.

“Were the US military to face such a decapitation of its leadership ranks, I would expect a public outcry,” Stephenson wrote in a message to members of the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA). “The talent being shown the door now is not only our top talent, but also talent that cannot be replicated overnight. The rapid loss of so many senior officers has a serious, immediate, and tangible effect on the capacity of the United States to shape world events.”

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Lock up this lunatic

[MontanaMama]

1. The lack of institutional knowledge

of foreign policy and diplomacy is terrifying. We've never been more at risk.

[malaise]

2. It's deliberate sabotage

so he can deal with his corrupt friends

[anneboleyn]

5. This is sabotage - this shit is extremely disturbing. There is not enough attention being paid to it

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

3. The Trump Kakistocracy rolls on

[malaise]

7. Yep - it's that simple

[Volaris]

4. maybe it's time some of us started to learn a second (or third) language and see if we can get jobs.

Those jobs gotta go to somebody (later), might as well be one of us who isn't all greedy and stoopid...
Just sayin'.

but yeah, its fucking. terrifying. State has been one of the Crown Jewels of the American Expierment since John Adams was there; what Jr. and Trump have used it for and how it's been approached is treasonously disgusting to me.

[malaise]

8. He knows more than all previous Presidents combined

Bangs head.

[KelleyKramer]

6. This is the Kock Bros and Heritage Foundation

This has nothing to do with Trump himself, this is the Koch brothers 'reshuffling the deck chairs' to get the career diplomats out and replace them with corporate lackeys to do their bidding

[malaise]

9. All I say is

LOCK HIM UP