Personnel Shortage Forces State Department to Leave Diplomatic Positions Vacant

[babylonsister]

State to leave 10 percent of jobs vacant

AP NewsBreak: Personnel Shortage Forces State Department to Leave Diplomatic Positions Vacant

MATTHEW LEE
AP News

Dec 12, 2007 12:23 EST

A critical shortage of diplomats will force the State Department to leave open 10 percent of its vacant positions around the world, with the exception of key posts such as in Iraq and Afghanistan, The Associated Press has learned.

At least 150 jobs in Washington and overseas missions scheduled to be filled next year will have to be deferred as the department struggles with "severe staffing shortfalls" due to a lack of resources, Foreign Service Director General Harry Thomas sent in a worldwide cable early Wednesday. The move comes even as the Bush administration is seeking to ramp up its international outreach.

"The department's staffing has not kept pace with current needs," he said in the unclassified cable entitled "2008 Foreign Service Assignments, Deficits and Tough Choices Ahead."

"Bureaus have been tasked with restrictions on 10 percent of midlevel generalist jobs in the current assignments cycle," Thomas said.

A copy of the cable was obtained by AP shortly after it was distributed through the State Department's internal messaging system.

Although keeping vacant positions open is not unprecedented — some embassies operate at only 70 percent of their full-strength staffing levels — the move follows a highly publicized dispute over the possibility of forced service in Iraq and comes as the department considers so-called "directed assignments" to other hardship posts.

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2007/12/state_to_leave_10_percent_of_j.php

[mrdmk]

1. Who wants to work in an environment where everything is wrong

according to your education.

Much of the problem, he (Foreign Service Director General Harry Thomas) said, lies with Congress, which has not authorized any significant increase in the size of the foreign service since 2004.

Here is the problem, lets blame the (Dem) congress.

[babylonsister]

2. Who wants to work in an environment where you might get killed?

That's the main reason those diplomats didn't want to go (to Iraq), and who can blame them?