Okay, my friends are always asking about what it is like working for the Department of State. Most of the time my answer is very general, as we are very protective of what we do, which we feel is very important. The Department and "diplomats" are often painted unflatteringly in the media, but you will rarely hear a public rebuttal from the men and women who serve with that unique American sense of honor.
U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg Cynthia Stroum Resigns.
Here is a rare glimpse behind the scenes. It is an interesting read, though it may have some dry parts-it is an Inspector General's report after all. This is all public information.
There is so much to learn here, more in what you don't see than what is overtly stated. Diplomats by nature avoid high emotion, preferring long term, objective, factual reporting. In diplomatic-speak this is actually quite extraordinary.
And though some would laugh at how this could be important-this is Luxembourg!?!! It is exactly the low key, consistent work that your representatives do everyday in small (and big) posts all over the world that serve our interest so well. Officers make contacts, build relationships and show themselves to be people of good character. This reflects well on all Americans.
When the day comes that we need something from our counterparts - be it help with criminal banking transactions, repatriating U.S. citizens, or a kind word on our behalf to a friend-of-a-friend nation - those relationships matter. And it truly is important that our ambassadors are people of character, with a strong sense of decorum and well developed manners.
U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg Cynthia Stroum Resigns.
Here is a rare glimpse behind the scenes. It is an interesting read, though it may have some dry parts-it is an Inspector General's report after all. This is all public information.
There is so much to learn here, more in what you don't see than what is overtly stated. Diplomats by nature avoid high emotion, preferring long term, objective, factual reporting. In diplomatic-speak this is actually quite extraordinary.
And though some would laugh at how this could be important-this is Luxembourg!?!! It is exactly the low key, consistent work that your representatives do everyday in small (and big) posts all over the world that serve our interest so well. Officers make contacts, build relationships and show themselves to be people of good character. This reflects well on all Americans.
When the day comes that we need something from our counterparts - be it help with criminal banking transactions, repatriating U.S. citizens, or a kind word on our behalf to a friend-of-a-friend nation - those relationships matter. And it truly is important that our ambassadors are people of character, with a strong sense of decorum and well developed manners.
