http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/index/ en U.S. Department of State 2012-02-11T15:54:03+00:00
Sounds like it was a great talk at McGill. You should consider giving a talk at the University of Waterloo (http://uwaterloo.ca/) .]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/stories_fse/ Mon Oct 26, 2009 DipNote Blogger Paul Mayer writes:

@ Toby in Washington, DC: The group at McGill did not strike me as a group of pseudo-diplomats at all. Rather, they were the kind of curious, engaged and intelligent students that you’d see at top universities anywhere. People weren’t asking us about the famous people we’d met or the glamorous places that FSO’s live. They were much more interested in the work that we really did.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/stories_fse/ Sun Oct 25, 2009
The word 'story' works well...

"Being on the front lines of diplomacy is an experience with which few private sector organizations can compete."

Perhaps that is because it is, in reality, a Third Front, to change: Defense first, Economic-Corporate secondary, political third...or Corporate first, Defense second...

IT: Then you know that over 70% of intelligence comes from news sources outside the U.S. The truth in agreements is as far from honesty as it can be, is it not?

The truth comes from those who are the pawns that actually get their hands dirty....]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/stories_fse/ Sat Oct 24, 2009
How would you explain to a prospective candidate the politicization of the Foreign Service? This is most evident in the appointment of ambassadors, many of whom are qualified primarily by their prowess at presidential fundraising, but ever since the 1980s the lower ranks have also been politicized. Hopefully this reached its nadir in the last administration, which stringently vetted people in a number of Departments according to the "correctness" of their political views.

With regard to politicization of State, I am thinking particularly of Lewis Amselem, who is serving as the American representative to the OAS despite his open belligerence and hostility toward the elected president of Honduras as well as toward the Nicaraguan ambassador. Indeed, Amselem has a darker past, having been implicated in the attempt to cover up the massacre in Guatemala during the 1980s by slandering Sister Diana Ortiz, my fellow New Mexican, who had been kidnapped by the death squads and tortured. In her memoirs, it is stated that according to ABC News Amselem was the source of vile accusations against her, including the claim that she had faked the over 100 cigarette burns on her back to cover up an affair and the baseless statement that she was a lesbian. (see http://www.webdelsol.com/AGNI/asp98-jl.htm)

It seems obvious to me that the decision to retain and to deploy a person like Lewis Amselem in diplomacy is fundamentally a political decision. Certainly anyone entering the service should be aware that there's more to a career in the State Department than comforting bereaved families and judging beauty contests. There is politics, often of a notably ugly variety.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/stories_fse/ Fri Oct 23, 2009
As an American living and working in Medellin Colombia I have seen first hand the positive results brought on my State Department programs like Plan Colombia. The Colombian people thank U.S. public servants and I hope more people take this exam.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/stories_fse/ Thu Oct 22, 2009
Mr. Mayer: Can it be true? You judged the pagent that I was a contestant in years ago! How unique that I read this blog today! I'm overcome with joy to hear you are still a diplomat and that you are doing fine work in Canada. What else do you do in your job? I remember you told the group of us contestants about your work at the American Embassy in Stockholm, and I especially remember your big committment to your work.

I wish you the very best in your future goals. My son (who's name is also Paul!) and I wish you the very best and hope you will come back to Sweden again!]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/stories_fse/ Wed Oct 21, 2009
Hope I passed the exam..Should be hearing back soon although I understand the chance of passing that exam on the 1st shot is 30%..It must be nice to be that 30%!]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/stories_fse/ Wed Oct 21, 2009
Foreign Service Exam isn't the only game in town. We are also be recruiting actively for specialist positions in DS, IRM, Facilities, etc.

In my 10 years as an IT specialist overseas I've monitored elections, managed crises, entertained CEO's, shook hands with cabinet level officials and enjoyed other professional experiences that my private sector colleagues can't match.

Being on the front lines of diplomacy is an experience with which few private sector organizations can compete.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/stories_fse/ Wed Oct 21, 2009
Interesting story. I wonder if you can directly ask some of the students if that was the correlation. Otherwise, it might simply be because you were talking to Americans living abroad and this group might think of themselves as pseudo diplomats already.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/stories_fse/ Wed Oct 21, 2009