Crocker defends Iraq embassy decision

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Last updated November 2, 2007 2:31 a.m. PT

Crocker defends Iraq embassy decision

By BARBARA SURK
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- The U.S. ambassador to Iraq
defended Washington's recent decision to force foreign
service officers to work in the wartorn nation, saying Friday
that diplomats have a responsibility to prioritize the nation's
interest over their personal safety.

Ambassador Ryan Crocker made it clear that diplomats who
put their safety before that of the U.S. were "in the wrong
line of business."

"As we try to staff the embassy in Iraq, it is good for all our
colleagues to remember that we took an oath to serve our
nation worldwide when we joined the foreign service, just as
the military swore an oath," Crocker told reporters during a
news conference in Dubai.

Crocker's comments followed a week of uproar by diplomats
over the policy, including a contentious town hall meeting
Wednesday where angry foreign service officers raised
concern about the "potential death sentence" of being
ordered to work in Iraq.

-snip-

Read more: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1107AP_Iraq_US_Embassy.html

[Xipe Totec]

1. Tell that to the AWOL Chimp and the 5-times defered Cheney nt

[Solly Mack]

2. That man sure does live up to his name

Crock-a shit

[peacebird]

5. LOL! Hadn't noticed before, thanks for the laugh!

[izzie]

3. Isn't Blackwater keeping these people safe?

??I read it has been paid B/Millions to keep the State Dept. safe. Also that the whole Green Zone is under lock and key by other private armies. I wonder why they do not think it is safe? Well maybe they feel like me. I find a private army paid for by some part of our govt. and we do not know just what they are doing and who they are loyal to scary as hell. I feel a bad thing is going on to have private fire dept. police dept. and armies. It looks like a rich mans thing. I am willing to bet they can write off the cost of these things as they cut the taxes so we can not even buy them for the use of the general pop. Bad deal all :shrug:

[Kagemusha]

7. What are you talking about? Blackwater's not long for Iraq now.

They're not going to stick around under army command and with their Iraqi legal immunity stripped away as is now pending. And not just them: all the others will be more or less pulling out completely, too. Diplomats can read the writing on the wall here.

[izzie]

10. OK maybe they do see that Blackwater will be gone.

I frankly do not think so unless Bush is gone. Bush is going to give us all up to private business if it takes down the USA brick by brick. That is what you get when you get a man who is sure he is right and no one can do a thing about it. We have had this type in history before. I guess it is a man who is very unsure of him self but he has power and things happen with that type. Maybe we can make the state dept. a private thing? Give them Blackwater wages and send them over. It is one crazy mess for sure.

[hobbit709]

4. The "Green Zone" gets incoming several times a day.

We can't even secure the eight miles of road from the airport to the zone after 4 ½ years. The big boys fly in by heavily armored and escorted chopper-the rank and file run the gantlet of the highway. You don't think that has anything to do with their reluctance to go there.

[lldu]

6. Don't see any troops.....

being allowed to voice their opinions like that do we? These guys (diplomats) will be guarded by the troops (or Blackwhatever. Of course, if troops complained, they would hear "But you volunteered". Now, how do you think our troops feel now that they have heard about diplomats throwing shrub-like temper tantrums and screaming "I don't wanna go"?

[gratuitous]

8. A very good point

Seems that folks unconstrained by the UCMJ have no difficulty voicing their opinion that this is a suicide posting. One does indeed wonder what we might hear from military folks should they ever decide that they love their country more than their commander-in-chimp.

[Supersedeas]

9. other embassies are closed when a credible threat is received-in Bush world, one embassy is a legacy

project and must remain opened.